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Divorce

Hiring an Attorney vs. Doing it Yourself


July 21, 2010
Topic: Divorce

Can you get a divorce without an attorney?  Yes.  Is it a good idea to get a divorce without using the services of an attorney?  Not usually.  Often times, people believe that doing their divorce on their own without an attorney can save them money.  The truth of the matter is that many people who represent themselves in a divorce may be entering into an agreement that is not what they think it is.  The result can be extremely expensive as well as emotionally damaging.  There are times that an attorney may not be able to fix the mistakes that people have inadvertently made.

The do-it-yourself forms that people find on the internet and the county self-help departments are often overwhelming, as well as, incomplete.  These forms allow people to check a box as to what they want to happen in their divorce.  As easy as this may sound, often times the box they have checked may not be completely comprehensive and may not include what the parties’ true intent was.  This makes it easy to make a mistake and not realize it until the divorce has been completed and problems arise. 

Additional documents are an important part of the divorce process.  People may not realize that after their divorce is final certain documents need to be completed in order for some assets to be transferred such as real property and retirement accounts.  Also, a number of documents are necessary to be filed as part of the divorce and if these documents are not filed, significant delays or other extreme consequences can happen.  

People who do their own divorce may miss a hearing or deadline without even realizing it.  If you do miss a deadline you may not be allowed to submit important documents that support your side of the story.  If you miss a hearing, the other party could end up getting what they have asked the Court for.

A divorce can be a very emotional and costly process, and even more so if you try to hire an attorney after the fact.  Sometimes, the attorney cannot fix the mistakes that have been made and the person is left having to deal with the consequences which may be grossly unfair and unreasonable.  These mistakes could have been prevented if the attorney had been part of the process.           

Hiring a good attorney can assist you in your healing process, as well as walk you through the legal elements to help you reach a reasonable result in a difficult period of your life.  If you had a deep wound you would not give yourself stitches.  You would seek the expertise of a medical professional.  A divorce covers some of the most important aspects of your life, such as your children, your home, and your financial future.  Certainly, an attorney who is an expert in the field can help you sort through these issues and move you toward a future that is not so uncertain and potentially frightening.  At Beckman and Steen we can help you through this difficult period and encourage you to give us a call.