Mobile Apps by Lawyers for Lawyers

While many lawyers are still figuring out how to use mobile applications, popularly referred to as apps, a number of family law practitioners have taken the initiative to develop them. This month we feature enterprising family lawyers from across the country who have developed apps for the practice of family law.

Dallas family law specialist Michelle May O’Neil has developed a series of do-it-yourself divorce apps for the iPhone. “Divorce Cost & Prep” is the first in a planned line of divorce-related apps for the iPhone by her newly formed company DivorceApps.com.

Divorce Cost & Prep ($9.99, iTunes) serves two purposes: (1) Help assess the hidden and direct costs of divorce, such as the cost of two wardrobes for the children or the transportation costs for exchanging the children between homes, and (2) creates a list of information and documents to gather for their lawyer to assist preparation of their divorce.

The second offering, Estate Divider ($9.99, iTunes) allows parties to create an inventory of assets and liabilities and then calculate how best to divide them.

O’Neil and Fort Worth forensic CPA Bryan Rice developed the idea for the apps as a way to help clients save money in their divorces. “There are many people that want or need a divorce that cannot afford the high costs of litigation,” says O’Neil. “Our apps provide those people with the ability to help themselves and save on the money it might otherwise cost to pay a lawyer to do these things for them.”