Frequently Asked Questions

CourtDocs is an intelligent legal document generation platform designed to help pro se (self-represented) litigants create professional-quality court documents. We provide the same document generation capabilities as a well-staffed law firm, but accessible to everyone.

No. CourtDocs is a document preparation service, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, represent you in court, or have an attorney-client relationship with you. For legal advice specific to your situation, you should consult with a licensed attorney.

No. Our guided interview process walks you through creating legal documents step by step. We explain legal concepts as you go and help you understand what information is needed. However, we strongly recommend researching your legal issues or consulting an attorney for complex matters.

CourtDocs supports civil litigation (motions, responses, discovery), family law (custody, support, divorce filings), bankruptcy (Chapter 7 and 13), and small claims. We're constantly adding new document types and jurisdictions.

Documents are generated in court-compliant formats including Word (.docx) for editing and PDF for filing. We format documents according to your jurisdiction's local rules, including proper margins, fonts, line numbering, and caption formatting.

Yes. We provide Word documents that you can edit as needed. We strongly recommend reviewing and customizing every document before filing. You know your case best - our system provides a strong starting point based on the information you provide.

Yes. CourtDocs verifies all legal citations against our database of case law and statutes. We flag any citations that cannot be verified. However, you should always double-check that cited cases support the propositions they're cited for.

Our Document Types guide explains each document and when it's appropriate. If you're still unsure, start with our guided interview - we'll ask questions about your situation and recommend the appropriate document type.

No. You are responsible for filing your documents with the court and serving them on other parties. Our Filing Guide explains the different filing methods (e-filing, in-person, mail) and service requirements.

Filing fees vary by court and document type, typically ranging from $20 to $500. If you cannot afford fees, you may qualify for a fee waiver (In Forma Pauperis). Ask your court clerk for the fee waiver application.

Service means delivering copies of your filed documents to all other parties in the case. This is a legal requirement - if you don't serve properly, the court may ignore your filing. Service rules vary by document type and whether it's an initial filing or a motion.

A Proof of Service (or Declaration of Service) is a document you file with the court showing that you served the other parties. It states who was served, when, where, and how. Most filings require a Proof of Service.

Judge Intelligence provides research on your assigned judge, including their background, ruling patterns, and courtroom preferences. This helps you understand how to present your case most effectively. See our Judge Research guide for details.

Our Financial Forensics tool analyzes bank statements and financial records to identify patterns, income sources, and spending. This is particularly useful in family law cases for calculating support or demonstrating financial behavior.

Upload your evidence (documents, photos, communications) and we'll help organize them, build timelines, and create properly formatted exhibit packages for court. We auto-categorize files and flag potential legal issues.

Our document generation follows a battle-tested 7-phase approach: Evidence Gathering, Pattern Recognition, Steel-Man Opposition, Legal Research, Defense Strategy, Critical Insight, and Motion Drafting. This ensures comprehensive, well-reasoned documents.

Yes. We use bank-level encryption for all data in transit and at rest. Your documents and evidence are stored securely and are only accessible to you. We never share your information with third parties.

Only you can access your documents and case information. Our staff cannot view your documents unless you explicitly grant access for support purposes. Court documents you file become public record through the court, not through us.

Yes. You can delete individual documents or your entire account at any time. When you delete data, it's permanently removed from our systems within 30 days.

First, check that you've answered all required interview questions. If the problem persists, try refreshing the page and starting again. If issues continue, contact support with your case ID and we'll investigate.

Document formatting can display differently across word processors. Try opening the file in Microsoft Word or Google Docs. If issues persist, check that your local court's formatting requirements match our templates.

Our judge database is extensive but not complete. If your judge isn't listed, you can still generate documents - we'll use general best practices for your jurisdiction. Consider contributing information about your judge to help others.

We support PDF and CSV formats for bank statements. Ensure your file is under 10MB and not password-protected. If your statement is in an unusual format, try exporting it as CSV from your bank's website.