Friday, October 15, 1982
Daily Nebraskan
Page 7
Legal assistance offered
in family relations cases
By Eric Peterson
Editor Note: This is the sixth in a
series of articles that will be printed
in the Daily Nebraskan dealing with
student legal problems. Stories will
appear every Friday.
Shelly Stall, attorney for the UNL
Student Legal Services office, said
she handles a moderate number of
cases dealing with domestic relations
and family law in her job.
Although divorces are the largest
category, with as many as four cases
a month, Stall also talks to people
whose child-support payments are past
due and to those needing help with
paternity, adoption, child custody or
guardianship cases.
Some people want to alter or reduce
the child support or alimony payment
they have to pay under court order.
Stall said many students have child
support agreements that stay in effect
until they complete their educations.
Because the student legal services
attorney currently is not authorized
by the university to argue cases in
court, Stall said much of her job is
giving background on legal questions
that later may be continued with
another attorney.
"People want an overall view of
what the law is," Stall explained.
"I often direct people to other legal
aid sources." Cases that don't have to
go to court, such as uncontested
divorces, can be handled entirely
through her office, she said.
New system proposed
Stall said the Nebraska Bar Associa
tion will vote next week whether to
establish a "pro bono" (for the bene
fit of the public) legal aid system.
"It's a system where private at
torneys will be taking on cases for
people who qualify for federal aid,"
Stall said. The attorneys would work
for free or for low negotiated fees.
Stall noted that 400 lawyers across
the state already have volunteered
to work for such a program.
Stall usually advises clients who
are in the initial stages of divorce.
"Often they have no idea of what
the legal process involves," she said.
She added that divorce in this state
has been simpler since 1972.
"In 1972 a no-fault divorce law
was passed, which took the place of
the old law where you had to prove
grounds for a divorce," she said.
Now, Stall said, there are only two
requirements for a divorce decree. First,
the marriage must be "irretrievably
broken." Second, every effort for
reconciliation must have been made.
If one party disagrees mat the
marriage is over, the process is delayed
but not stopped, she said.
"Usually one of the couple will
go after some more counseling, but
that's about it," Stall said. Although
some people who have resisted a divorce
have carried their case all the way to
the Nebraska Supreme Court, the
divorce itself is not usually the con
troversial part, she said.
"The controversy is not whether
the marriage is irretrievably broken,
but on how to divide up the property,"
the attorney said.
Divorce costs
The simplest divorces in terms of
property are the least costly, she said.
She added that student divorces are
usually very cheap. If student clients
can't agree on a property or custody
settlement, Stall said she can help
them find an attorney and guide them
through the legal stages. She noted it
is possible, but not adviseable, for a
person to represent himself or herself
in a divorce suit.
On the first visit to an attorney,
a client should bring along financial
records, such as listing of each spouse's
property and its value, and records of
mortgages, debts, insurance and tax
returns.
Child custody has undergone some
changes, Stall noted.
"It used to be a settled thing that
the child would stay with the mother
and the father would pay support,"
she said.
For students who need help con
cerning rape or spouse or child abuse,
one of the best sources of aid is the
RapeSpouse Abuse Hot Line at 475
7273, Stall said. The UNL Women's
Resource Center offers person-to-person
counseling in the Nebraska Union and
has a Rape Crisis Line at 472-2597.
.
X '
AT 10 ISSUE, IT'S THE MOST
COMPREHENSIVE FOOTBALL
COVERAGE YOU CAPJ BUY.
FIRST DOWN!
LCOIC FOU IT AT HOME
FOOTBALL GAMES.
Protest is set
for Saturday
A day of international
protest against U.S. inter
vention in El Salvador is
scheduled for Saturday.
LASCO, the Latin Ame
American Solidarity Com
mittee at UNL, will spon
sor a rally at 11 a.m. on
the north steps of the
state Capitol, as part of the
international protests
demanding an end to U.S.
military aid to El Salvador.
Newsline
472-2588
22.
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7
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EQMRfi
GOIO OR SILVER IMPORTEO BOTTLED BY TEQUILA JALISCO S A ST LOUIS MO 80 PROOF
October 16
On The Plaza
featuring
10:30 am Tri-Delta Washboard Band
11:15 am Men's Glee
12:15 pm Scaret & Creme
1:30 pm
FOREIGN FILM SERIES
presents:
"SISTERS"
or "The Balance of Happiness"
SISTERS is the third of 12 Films that make
up the 82-83 Foreign Film Series. Series
Tickets are available at the films Students
$12.00 Non-students $15.00 - -
Screenings: Sunday Oct. 17 3, 7, and 9 p.m.
Monday Oct. 18 7 and 9 p.m.
Screenings Are held at Sheldon Film Theatre.
feu' h .
L Oi r J) II
s4f 1
1 aaaMiw3
Today
National
Pig Day!
To celebrate - feed your piggy (bank, that is)!
Become a plasma donor!
$10 is paid for each donation and you can donate twice
weekly (but please wait 72 hours between donations).
That's up to $95 a month.
And that can buy a lot of bacon!
New donors bring this ad for an extra $2 for your first
donation.
Call now for an appointment
475-8645
University Plasma Center
1442 O Street
Open Monday-Friday 8.006.00
Saturday 8.004.00
federal! licensed