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Self Litigants
A self litigant is a person who chooses to appear in Court 'for themselves' and is not represented by a lawyer. It is not as simple as it might sound. All the rules of the Court, and the Court's processes and procedures, must still be followed. This requires a substantial understanding of the legal process.With approval from the Judge a self litigant may also have a lay person in Court to assist them. Sometimes referred to as a "McKenzie Friend", this person can give the self litigant advice and take notes, but they cannot act as their advocate, address the Court or talk about the case with anyone else.
The following links are necessary reading for anyone considering self representation in Court.
Family Court: Guidelines for Judges and Staff for Dealing with Unrepresented Litigants
Litigants in Person: Guidelines for Procedures in the Family Court