It just got a little trickier to get a divorce in Missouri. That is, if you represent yourself.

The state is seeing a growing number of people filing for divorce on their own. Legal Services experts in Springfield say it’s another side effect of the economy. However, the system to make things easier now makes it a little more complicated.

In the days of quickie marriages comes even quicker divorces, and many of us have known someone who's been through the latter.

But you might as well forget about getting a divorce online. Those days may be coming to an end in Missouri. That’s because there are forms out there that are being sold that don’t even comply with Missouri courts. And courts are not taking them.

“The Missouri Supreme Court saw a need,” says Deanna Scott, Director of Litigation for Legal Services of Southern Missouri.

The Missouri Supreme Court just added a new rule to its books, making it mandatory for soon-to-be divorcees to think twice and hard about going through the process without an attorney. People have to take an online assessment and in some cases, a class about the risks of self-representation.

Scott says even though it’s a lengthy process, it’s better than the alternative of getting the wrong forms. Currently there’s a backlog in the system, and some times people think they can just go to court and get a divorce. Then the judge has to give them a short tutorial on how the system works. It creates even more lost time, and this new change is supposed to speed up the entire process for the court system. Nonetheless, don't tell that to someone who's committed to getting out of their marriage.

If you do get paperwork off the internet, make sure it complies with Missouri courts. The Supreme Court offers the information on its website. It's free and you can guarantee the forms will be accepted in state courts. Click here to get to the Supreme Court's website about self-representation.