Should you represent yourself in a divorce? Some couples can successfully divorce without the help of a lawyer, while others do require the services of a divorce lawyer. Understanding the circumstances in which it is in your best interest to engage a divorce lawyer can make a big difference in the outcome of your divorce proceedings.
When to Represent Yourself
If you and your spouse are divorcing amicably, you may be able to successfully represent yourself, as long as these additional circumstances are met.
• You have no adopted or biological children
• You have no or few assets
• Neither party is contesting the divorce
• Neither party is seeking financial support from the other
• You have no shared debt
• Neither of you owes the other any money
• You have no shared business concerns
• You both reside in the same county
As you can see, the circumstances of a divorce that can be handled are long and specific. Few people can say that their divorce qualifies for all of these conditions, but some can.
When to Hire a Divorce Lawyer
In most cases, it's prudent to hire a divorce lawyer as soon as possible after the decision to divorce is made. Following are some situations in which you should definitely consider hiring a divorce lawyer.
• Children are involved
• Considerable assets are involved, such as a home or business
• One party entered into the marriage with considerable debt or wealth
• One party is contentious or acrimonious
• The other party has hired legal representation
• One party is threatening a lawsuit
• One party is seeking financial spousal support
• One party has divorced multiple times in the past
• One party lives in a different county
What a Divorce Lawyer Can Do For You
A competent and ethical divorce lawyer is one that aligns himself with your interests. Your interest, of course, is to get through the divorce as quickly as possible, in as good a shape as possible, financially and emotionally.
A divorce lawyer will be able to counsel you regarding choices that can be made regarding the divorce proceedings, but the final decision is always up to you, and the final judgment is up to the court.
If you and your spouse are divorcing, contact a divorce lawyer for information about how best to proceed. With good legal representation in place, your divorce proceedings may be as swift and equitable as possible.
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