Using Amicus
Last updated May 2026
This page explains how to use Amicus — the tools, the features, and what they can and cannot do. If you're looking to understand the divorce process itself, that's Compass — a step-by-step guide to your jurisdiction's legal procedures, separate from the document tools.
Three steps that cover most of what you'll do in Amicus:
Go to Case File on the dashboard and upload your Word (.docx) files — court papers, correspondence, financial records. This powers the Timeline, Deadline Tracker, and Ask Anything.
Open the Document Builder and work through 6 guided sections. Select your jurisdiction at the top before starting. Your progress saves automatically.
Not sure where you are in the divorce process itself? Compass is a step-by-step guide to your jurisdiction's procedures — separate from the document tools, and useful alongside them.
An AI-guided conversation across 6 sections — Parties & Background, Children & Custody, Maintenance & Support, Asset Division, Debts & Liabilities, and Final Agreement — that produces a settlement agreement draft template.
When to use: When you're ready to start drafting. Select your jurisdiction first; the builder tailors questions and output to South Africa, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and four US states (California, New York, Texas, Florida).
Enter your assets and see what a 50/50 split — or any percentage you choose — actually looks like. Keep an asset and buy out your spouse, or sell and split. South Africa: applies your marriage regime (community of property, accrual, or out of community without accrual).
When to use: When you want to understand the financial mechanics of division — not to decide your settlement, but to see what the numbers actually look like for different scenarios.
Upload and store your case documents — court papers, correspondence, financial records, or anything relevant. Accepts PDF, DOC, and DOCX files up to 20 MB each.
When to use: Start here. Upload your documents before using Timeline, Deadline Tracker, or Ask Anything — those features require uploaded Word (.docx) files with extractable text.
AI-extracted deadlines from your uploaded Word documents, colour-coded by urgency — red (imminent), amber (approaching), green (comfortable) — with a days-remaining counter.
When to use: After uploading .docx files. Click "Extract Deadlines" to scan your documents for time-sensitive obligations; click "Refresh" after adding new documents.
AI-generated chronological list of key dates and events extracted from your uploaded Word documents — marriage date, separation, legal filings, financial events, and more.
When to use: After uploading .docx files. Click "Generate" to build your timeline; click "Regenerate" after uploading new documents.
A chat interface for asking specific questions about your uploaded Word documents — find a date, clarify a term, check what a document says about a particular asset or arrangement.
When to use: When you need to locate something specific in your documents without reading through everything.
A private, judgment-free space to process the emotional side of divorce. Not legal advice — nothing here drafts your documents.
When to use: When you need to think out loud, process a difficult decision, or simply be heard.
A personal task list for tracking your divorce process steps. Comes pre-loaded with common tasks; add, tick off, or delete items as you go.
When to use: Ongoing — work through it alongside the Document Builder and your attorney's instructions.
A weekly day-by-day schedule for planning care arrangements. Assign each day to Parent A, Parent B, or Split/Both. Add parent names and free-form notes.
When to use: When working through custody logistics alongside the Document Builder's Children & Custody section.
A step-by-step guide to the divorce process in your jurisdiction — stage maps, decision trees for common situations, and a contacts directory of helplines, legal bodies, and mediators.
When to use: When you want to understand the legal process itself, not just the paperwork. Compass is process knowledge; the rest of Amicus is product knowledge.
A reference directory of family law firms in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States. Filter by jurisdiction or search by name and location.
When to use: When you need to find qualified legal representation.
Features that work across multiple sections, or that are easy to miss:
Document Builder progress saves locally for offline use and to your account for cross-device access. Your Checklist and Co-Parenting Schedule also save in real time. Timeline results and Ask Anything conversations are generated fresh each session and are not stored.
Tap the ⚖ icon next to the chat input to open a side panel with definitions for 13 legal terms. Terms also appear inline in AI responses with an amber dotted underline — hover or tap to see the definition without leaving the conversation.
When the builder asks a structured question with a small number of options, answer buttons appear below the AI response. Tap one to send that answer without typing.
The Case File, Timeline, New Chapter, and Document Builder section headers each have a small ? button. Tap it for a quick summary of what that section does.
Tap the 🔔 icon in the dashboard header to opt in to a weekly email summary of upcoming deadlines. Tap 🔕 to opt out.
Timeline: "Export PDF" opens your browser's print dialog. Document Builder: "Export .txt" downloads a plain-text draft. Co-Parenting: "Export .txt" downloads your schedule. All three are draft outputs — not final legal documents.
On desktop, hover any section heading on the dashboard to see a one-line description of what that section does.
Not legal advice. Amicus generates document templates and process guidance only. Nothing produced by Amicus constitutes legal advice, and no attorney-client (or legal practitioner–client) relationship is formed by using this service. Content may be inaccurate, incomplete, or unsuitable for your specific situation.
Does not contact third parties on your behalf. Amicus does not contact the Family Advocate, any court, any attorney, or any other third party. It is a planning and drafting tool only. Any filings, communications, or submissions required by your divorce process must be made by you or your attorney.
Not a substitute for a qualified attorney. Before signing any document, filing any paperwork, or taking any legal step based on content generated here, obtain independent advice from a qualified legal professional licensed in your jurisdiction. Laws vary significantly between countries and regions — content may not reflect the law where you live.
Full details in our Terms of Service.
How do I sign in?
Amicus uses Google Sign-In and Sign in with Apple. There are no passwords — tap the relevant button on the login screen to authenticate.
What does the R149 payment include?
Your first Document Builder session is free. The once-off payment of R149 via PayFast unlocks continued access after that first session.
Can I get a refund?
No. Digital access is granted immediately on payment, and the payment is non-refundable. See Terms §9 for the full payment terms.
How do I delete my account?
On desktop: click "Delete account" in the top-right header. On mobile: tap the ••• menu in the top-right, then "Delete account". Deletion is immediate and permanent — your documents, timeline, checklist, co-parenting schedule, and builder progress are all removed.
Something isn't working — how do I get help?
Email potfiction@gmail.com. We typically respond within 1–2 business days. If a file won't download, try Chrome or Safari and check your downloads folder before emailing.
Why can't I generate a timeline or extract deadlines?
These features require Word (.docx) files with extractable text. PDFs are stored in your Case File but their content is not read by the AI. Upload at least one .docx file and try again.
Does my progress save between sessions?
It varies by feature. Document Builder progress, your Checklist, and your Co-Parenting Schedule all save to your account and persist between sessions. Timeline results, Ask Anything conversations, and New Chapter conversations do not persist — they start fresh each session.
What file types can I upload?
PDF, DOC, and DOCX files up to 20 MB each. Only .docx files have their text extracted for use with Timeline, Deadline Tracker, and Ask Anything.
Which countries does the Document Builder support?
South Africa, United Kingdom (England & Wales), Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and four US states: California, New York, Texas, and Florida. Select "Other" to proceed without a specific jurisdiction.
Is my data used to train AI models?
No. Anthropic's commercial API terms prohibit training on customer-submitted data by default, and we do not opt in to any such use. Your documents and conversations are used only to provide the service to you. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Are New Chapter conversations private?
Yes. New Chapter conversations are not stored between sessions and are separate from your case documents. Each session starts fresh.