ChatGPT has been helping me fight my divorce for the last year

Harnessing AI to Navigate a Contested Divorce: A Personal Journey with ChatGPT

Divorce proceedings can be complex and emotionally taxing, especially when children and financial considerations are involved. However, recent advancements in artificial intelligence have opened new pathways for individuals representing themselves in legal disputes. In this article, I share my personal experience of using ChatGPT to assist me through a challenging contested divorce, demonstrating how AI tools can empower self-represented litigants.

The Context of My Divorce Battle

My marriage was primarily characterized by my role as a stay-at-home parent. Throughout our union, I relied on my VA disability benefits, which were augmented to a 100% disability rating during our marriage, and I managed the household while my ex-wife pursued her career and education. Financially, I handled all the bills, even as she maintained a full-time job and lived rent-free with her family in a large, two-story home.

When I filed for divorce, the primary obstacle was child support—specifically, the amount owed for our two children. My ex-wife relocated to her sister’s house shortly after the filing, while I informed her that paying the full guideline support (around $1,100 per month) was not feasible given my fixed income. Despite her steady employment, education, and free housing, she sought the full amount, leaving significant debt burdens for me.

Initially, I retained legal counsel. However, after three months of temporary orders and ongoing legal threats, I was advised that my chances of obtaining a deviation from standard support were slim in my jurisdiction (San Antonio), which tends to favor mothers in such cases. Feeling discouraged and aware of the limitations, I decided to proceed pro se—representing myself in court.

Turning to Artificial Intelligence for Legal Assistance

Without formal legal training, I faced a daunting task: preparing filings, declarations, hardship statements, and compiling evidence. That’s when I turned to ChatGPT. This AI-powered tool became an invaluable assistant, helping me draft and format legal documents efficiently.

By providing clear, fact-based instructions to ChatGPT, I was able to generate well-organized and professional documents. The AI helped me check for errors I might have missed and kept my writing concise and relevant, steering clear of emotional language that could undermine my case.

The Impact of ChatGPT on My Legal Process

Using ChatGPT transformed my approach to self-representation. It consistently enhanced the quality of my filings and evidence presentations, giving me confidence that my submissions