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Most people don’t understand the forms. Some don’t even understand the language.

From Carmen Ríos
39 • Santa Fe, NM • Family Court Clerk • Bilingual Support

“I process paperwork, notarize affidavits, and explain custody orders. But most days, I’m also a translator—for both language and law.”

Family court isn’t built for clarity. People walk in scared, confused, often alone—and leave feeling worse.

I see it every day. A woman crying because she doesn’t know how to serve her spouse. A dad asking if a “petition to modify” means he’s losing custody. A grandmother acting as translator for her daughter-in-law because she speaks better English than anyone else in the family.

It’s not just language. It’s the legal language. People don’t know what “motion to compel” means. They just know they’re behind. The forms are cold. The systems are unforgiving. And we—the clerks—aren’t allowed to explain.

When someone comes in with Splitifi docs, I notice. They’re calm. They have timelines. They don’t fumble for dates or mix up exhibits. You can see they’ve been guided—not just processed.

I don’t endorse anything publicly. I’m a clerk. I stay neutral. But if I had a family member going through this, I’d tell them: “Use something that protects you from the system—not just your ex.”

Splitifi makes this building feel less like a maze. And that alone is worth something.

—Carmen