The moment we decide to spend the rest of our life with someone else might be one of the best ones ever. Unfortunately, the outcome does not always end well.
Divorce happens for many reasons, and it does not always have to end “bad.” And while it’s perfectly reasonable for certain people to proceed without an attorney, some divorces may require hiring legal representation.
In today’s article, we will tell you what you need to ask if you’re planning to file for divorce and don’t want to hire an attorney. Let’s visit here. We know that these are difficult times in which a person needs all the help, support, and reassurance they can get, and solely because of that reason, we won’t keep this introduction any longer than it needs to be. But, knowing all these things, you should definitely properly prepare yourself for the issues that might arise during this process. Let’s take a look at what you need to know before you proceed on your own.
1. Can I deal with all legal issues?
Divorce and custody cases are fraught with issues that require extensive knowledge of the law. There are a lot of loopholes in the law that can be exploited or abused by the person that understands them better. You’ve probably already heard about cases where one person gets overpowered by the other and ends up losing their property, financial resources, personal belongings, custody of their child, or more. This obviously creates a bad outcome. Unless you’re absolutely sure that you won’t get yourself into such a situation, and that you can deal with all of the legal issues that come with your case, we’d recommend hiring an attorney.
2. Is it worth it?
Money is a very important resource, especially when divorcing since you will be looking to forge ahead after the divorce on just your income alone. Some of the reasons people decide not to hire a divorce attorney is because they are not sure what it will cost, if their budget can afford it, or whether the price is worth it. Often, people who proceed without an attorney don’t realize until it’s too late that they made the wrong decision. In most cases, an affordable divorce attorney can be found. In certain cases, the legal fees you pay are more than worth it, considering all that you would lose if something goes very wrong with your divorce case. There are other divorce lawyers who will charge fixed fees, so you will know that your budget can handle hiring an attorney. Fully examine the cost of legal representation before you decide to proceed alone.
3. Am I risking more than I should?
As with any decision, you must weigh the risks and rewards. In a divorce situation, it can sometimes be risky to go it alone. If your case has a high net worth, if you have retirement accounts, or own real estate, you may be risking more than you should if you decide to continue the process without hiring a divorce attorney. Yes, you will have to come out of pocket to have a professional by your side, but losing half of your property, the custody of a child, or something as expensive as your house or retirement account is definitely not worth the risk. Don’t try to save on important issues like these because you could be losing a lot more as a result of it.
4. Will this be complicated or contentious?
Things in life often get complicated, even a divorce, which is relatively straight-forward. In fact, when it comes to a divorce, it can get really messy in a very short period of time. If you know that your partner has a malicious intent from the start, or you notice that they’re preparing to take advantage of you in case things go to court, you’ll have to be prepared as well. You definitely do not want this to go one way, as you may end up in a lot of trouble.
First, you should educate yourself. There are lots of useful websites on the internet that you can visit to learn more, such as rightlawyers.com, for example. It’s okay not to know all things regarding divorce, but you should take the time to learn about issues like child custody and property division.
We don’t want to scare you by any means, and we can assure you that sometimes marriages can end very amicably, and the two sometimes even remain friends afterward, but you can never be too careful if you notice that things are getting complicated or contentious. If it ends up with a lot of arguing, threats, or anything like that, it’s important that you prepare yourself for the worst, and a divorce attorney should be hired.
5. Is your spouse hiring a lawyer?
Although a divorce is something that may be able to be sorted out just between you and your partner, in these modern times, it’snot always like that. Where your spouse hires a divorce attorney and is getting professional advice, you are automatically at a disadvantage if you don’t hire one for yourself as well. Although this shouldn’t be the only deciding factor for you, it definitely plays a huge role in your decision to hire your own lawyer. The legal advice your spouse is getting will be used against you in all respects, and you’ll need every bit of help that you can get in an intense situation like this. You should definitely seek additional protection and someone who will watch over your interests.
