It is hardly breaking news that some areas of Nebraska are dealing with a shortage of attorneys. Some recent reports have suggested that around a dozen counties are without a single attorney based within the county lines.

You can insert your own joke here, but it’s no laughing matter for those residents who need legal services. It’s particularly difficult for people trapped in a difficult marriage who need a divorce.

Omaha divorce law firm, Koenig|Dunne, PC, LLO, stepped up to create Untie Online, with partner Angela Lennon leading the way.

“There wasn’t one particular case that inspired us to create the online divorce service,” Lennon stated, but the need had become obvious from Koenig|Dunne working in the field.

The firm’s work has been noticed beyond Nebraska, as last month Koenig|Dunne received the Clio Reisman Award for Legal Innovation in recognition of Untie Online. The limited scope divorce service, a first in the state, garnered the international recognition for challenging the legal industry norms through technology and the delivery of legal services.

Lennon recalled how Koenig|Dunne looked at the data, evaluated what the firm already had seen from its professional experience, and acknowledged there was as need.

            “There’s an overlap between the financial hardship and having no lawyers,” Lennon stated, adding that lawyers in smaller communities often may not desire to do divorces.

 The firm came to the realization, that: “If we had a platform or a tool to provide those services to help provide access and close that gap,” it would be a tremendous service.

There were no statutory obstacles to creating this new service, Lennon said, but to make sure there were no issues, Koenig|Dunne worked with the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Council for Discipline during the process of creating Untie Online.

“Really, it’s a limited scope service at its core,” Lennon offered, and one that works for people who are not contesting the divorce.

By limited scope she explained that only one spouse can sign up. They then get access to the platform and answers to some questions. The client fills out the paperwork and the parties involved do their own due diligence regarding financial matters. Put simply, it’s another option when people are considering a dissolution of their marriage.

            “Untie Online is really geared toward an uncontested divorce,” Lennon explained. “We ask you a series of questions.”

From that, a document is generated, and the paperwork is ready to be filed with the court. The basic access to the information and forms, plus workbooks to provide guidance, comes at a cost of $299. The cost can increase by a couple hundred dollars when the client needs a little more guidance and advice.

“Here’s the process, here’s what you need to do, here’s how you do it,” Lennon said.

Lennon, who earned her undergraduate degree from Creighton University and worked at Koenig|Dunne for a year before returning to attend Law School, said Untie Online was launched in December 2019 and has been well received by their clients.

“Anybody we worked with or talked to are very grateful to be supported,” Lennon stated. “People in the legal community really are seeing it as filling the access to justice gap.”

The service also has generated its share of referrals, something Lennon has found quite rewarding. Untie Online is also efficient in moving the often emotionally painful process along.

“As long as people can reach agreements in their case,” Lennon said, “It eliminates the back-and-forth with attorneys.”  

The process can usually be completed within the sixty days the court has set up as the waiting process for a divorce. That is what Lennon and Koenig|Dunne hope to accomplish.

            “If we can help people get through the process . . . that really is the goal.”

You can find more information about Untie Online at www.untieonline.com.