Family Court Next Steps Navigator
A personalized, web-based navigator that tells family law litigants exactly what to do next—step by step, document by document in a local court case—so they can move their case forward without confusion.
Project Description
The Family Law Next Steps Navigator would be an AI-assisted, court-connected tool that provides people with clear, actionable instructions tailored to their specific stage in a case. Instead of vague guides or flowcharts, it would deliver practical, task-oriented directions such as which forms to complete, what documents to gather, where to file, and even which office or clerk to see.
By shifting the focus from informing people about every possible option to helping them get specific things done, the tool could reduce delays, errors, and stress for self-represented litigants.
Many people in family law cases—whether in divorce, custody, or child support matters—face overwhelming procedural hurdles. Traditional resources, like flowcharts or FAQ-style guides, often provide too much general information without enough actionable clarity. Litigants may leave the courthouse or a self-help center knowing what might happen but not what they specifically need to do next.
The Family Law Next Steps Navigator could address this gap. Through a simple web interface, users answer a few questions about where they are in their case (for example, “I just filed my petition” or “I’ve received a response”). The system then would produce a customized, court-specific checklist that includes:
- Contextual updates: “Great job getting all those papers turned in. Clerk Smith entered them into the system on June 9 at 10:30 am.”
- Personalized document lists: “Now, gather copies of your bank statements from Chase, your retirement account from Chevron, and your credit card statement from USAA.”
- Exact form instructions: “Complete FL-XXX and FL-XXX, make two copies, and bring them to Room 214.”
- Sequenced tasks: Once current steps are completed, the tool generates the next tasks, creating an ongoing guided pathway.
By providing concrete, sequenced actions, the Navigator could help litigants avoid missed deadlines, incomplete filings, or repeated courthouse visits. It shifts the model from informing people about possibilities to helping them complete the required steps in real time.
The system would integrate with court case management data (for confirmation of filings and deadlines) and leverage AI to parse case information into next-step instructions. Importantly, it is designed as a human-centered support tool, not a substitute for legal advice: all outputs are grounded in procedural guidance and plain-language resources already vetted by courts.
Benefits include:
- Reduced staff time spent answering routine procedural questions.
- Increased accuracy and timeliness of filings by self-represented litigants.
- Greater user confidence and autonomy in navigating the family court process.
- Potential to scale across jurisdictions by adapting workflows and local rules.
Ultimately, the Navigator would not be about showing people all the things they might do, but helping them get the one specific 'next thing' done that moves their case forward.