Can Start Over Fresh handle my divorce or custody case?

No. We do not accept divorce, legal separation, custody, child support, spousal support, or any family law matter, and we never handle anything involving a minor. Those belong in family court with a lawyer.

What can you actually address then?

The narrow money questions between adults: who pays the shared card, who keeps the thing you bought together, who owes the last month of rent. Anything that needs a divorce decree or a custody order is out of scope.

What if we were married?

Then the property is usually part of the divorce, which we do not handle. We can only address a clear, standalone debt one of you owes the other, like a loan or a shared card charge, that does not depend on dividing the marriage.

A pet is treated as property in most places, and a panel can offer an advisory opinion on who pays for the pet or who keeps it. If your state treats pets differently in a separation, check local law first.

Common disputes

After a breakup

Splitting shared costs or belongings after a breakup

Two adults shared an apartment, a car, a streaming account, a pet, or a credit card, and now the relationship is over and the stuff is not. This is the part nobody plans for, and it turns small shared things into a long, exhausting list.

Start Over Fresh handles only everyday money and property disagreements between adults. We do not accept divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, or any other family law matter, and we do not handle anything involving a minor. What we can address is the narrow, practical question of who owes what for the shared costs and the shared things you bought together.

Your options

Four honest routes, including doing nothing.

Doing nothing

Sometimes one person just lets the small things go, and that is a valid choice when the amounts are low and the peace is worth more. Just be honest about whether you are letting it go or keeping a running tally.

A demand letter

A plain written list of what is shared, what you paid, and what you are asking for is often enough, especially when it stays factual. Name the items, the amounts, and a date, and send it in a way you can prove.

Small claims court

For shared costs and belongings between unmarried adults, small claims is the enforceable route when the amount justifies it. Expect a filing fee and a hearing. Divorce, custody, and support are not small claims matters and belong in family court.

Start Over Fresh

A Standard Case gives you a neutral written opinion on who owes what for the shared costs and the shared things, usually within days. It does not divide a household the way a court can, it is not a court, and it does not handle any family law matter.

How Start Over Fresh works for this

The timing below is for a Standard Case.

1
Tell your side
You explain what happened in plain words, add whatever documents you have, and name the other person. A Standard Case takes about ten minutes to file, and there is no filing fee.
2
They respond
The other person gets an email link and has 2 business days to answer. No account is required. We send a reminder before the deadline, and if they never answer, a default is entered, though the panel still reads everything you filed.
3
Try mediation, then get a decision
A neutral AI mediator suggests up to three ways to settle, and each of you has 24 hours to accept one, ask for a single change, or skip. If nothing is accepted, three AI judges decide. A Standard Case is usually decided in about 3 to 5 calendar days from filing.

Hypothetical example, not a real case

A hypothetical example

Two partners shared an apartment and a joint card for two years. After the breakup, one kept the furniture they split the cost of, and the other wanted half. A panel might find the keeping partner owes half the shared furniture value, while declining a claim for ordinary shared groceries. That is an illustration, not a prediction.

Questions people ask

Can Start Over Fresh handle my divorce or custody case?: No. We do not accept divorce, legal separation, custody, child support, spousal support, or any family law matter, and we never handle anything involving a minor. Those belong in family court with a lawyer.
What can you actually address then?: The narrow money questions between adults: who pays the shared card, who keeps the thing you bought together, who owes the last month of rent. Anything that needs a divorce decree or a custody order is out of scope.
What if we were married?: Then the property is usually part of the divorce, which we do not handle. We can only address a clear, standalone debt one of you owes the other, like a loan or a shared card charge, that does not depend on dividing the marriage.
Who keeps the pet?: A pet is treated as property in most places, and a panel can offer an advisory opinion on who pays for the pet or who keeps it. If your state treats pets differently in a separation, check local law first.

Start with your side of the story

About ten minutes to file, no filing fee, and the other person does not need an account.

Start a Standard Case

Related disputes

Other everyday disagreements and the same honest options.

Friend broke or lost what I lent Friend didn't pay their trip share Roommate won't pay rent

Start Over Fresh issues nonbinding advisory opinions. It is not a court and does not give legal advice.