If you are seeking a divorce, you may be tempted to file for divorce on your own using court provided documents or information from a book or website. While a do-it-yourself divorce may be acceptable in rare situations, most people should hire an attorney to represent their interests. Below are reasons an attorney is needed in divorce proceedings.

Reduce Stress: Objective Advice During an Emotional Time

Divorce is a stressful time for everyone involved. People may experience feelings of sadness, betrayal, fear, depression, rage, confusion, and resignation. Hiring an attorney to complete a divorce is one way to reduce this stress. As an objective third party, an attorney can keep a clear, level head and separate themselves from the emotional side of the case, in order to work towards the best resolution for everyone involved. While the attorney will need to gather information, he or she will take care of almost everything else, allowing you time to take care of yourself and your family. There are enough things to worry about during a divorce, don’t allow the legal process be one of those issues. 

Expert Advice: Options You Didn’t Even Know Existed

An experienced attorney will help ensure you obtain property, retirement funds, personal effects, etc. you are entitled to. An attorney will also help protect the interests of any minor children. Knowing how to navigate the legal process is an attorney’s job, and an experienced attorney will know how to address all the issues surrounding divorce, including child custody and child support, income, debts, assets, alimony, and future assets such as inheritance and retirement funds and their potential tax implications. Based on their experience with the judge and similar cases, an attorney will be able to offer a variety of legally acceptable options to settle your case.

Avoid Mistakes: A Divorce Decree Will Impact Your Life for Years to Come

There are two primary reasons people make mistakes when completing their own divorce: the legal system is complicated and the stress of the divorce makes it difficult to think clearly and objectively. If you simply forgets to address an issue such as medical or credit card debt or if you underestimate or overestimate the value of an asset, you can make a significant mistake in a divorce proceeding. Such a mistake may cause financial harm and may require future legal proceedings which can be expensive. An attorney will help avoid costly mistakes that you may regret for the rest of your life.

One Word: Paperwork

Going through a divorce can feel like being buried alive under a mountain of paperwork. Knowing which forms are needed can be challenging and collecting all the information to complete them is be both difficult and time consuming. However, producing complete paperwork is crucial as the judge will rely heavily on completed documents to decide the outcome of your case. An attorney knows how to properly complete the required paperwork, persuasively make the case, thus increasing the chances that a judge will view your case favorably. 

Familiarity With the Legal Process: There Is No Special Treatment for Self-Represented Litigants

In court, self-represented litigants are not given any special treatment; judges will hold them to the same standards as attorneys. Thus, if a self-represented litigant doesn’t know the law, what documents are needed, or what steps to take, not only will the individual be hurting their case, but they will likely upset the judge. And an annoyed a judge is likely to be less sympathetic. Attorneys know the law, they know the process, and they know the judges. Having familiarity with the legal process in a divorce proceeding is critical to a successful outcome.