A divorce doesn’t have to be a long, drawn-out process with fighting and a substantial legal bill at the end. When a couple can agree on issues when going through a divorce, it saves time, money, and emotional stress. While an uncontested divorce is the easier path to take, that doesn’t mean you should do it yourself.
There are websites out there that advocate the idea of doing your divorce on your own. With the click of a button, you have a quick, inexpensive divorce. However, choosing this route can cost you more in the long run.
Even if your divorce is uncontested, you can still benefit from retaining an experienced divorce lawyer. This article will discuss the advantages of hiring a lawyer for your uncontested divorce.
Lawyers Provide and Prepare the Required Paperwork
These DIY divorce websites will take your money and give you a packet of forms to download. They then instruct you to fill out the paperwork and submit it to the Courts. Unfortunately, these sites don’t update these forms regularly. Also, if your local court updates its rules, these updates may not accurately reflect the current rules.
In certain instances, there are specific documents that are required. These forms can be complicated and confusing for the average person. There is also special language required in some of this paperwork before the judge can approve the agreement.
Your divorce lawyer will have all of the paperwork for your specific case and ensure that the forms contain the necessary language and are completed and filed correctly. That means that you won’t have to stress about what forms to file, how to fill them out, or where to submit them.
A Lawyer Can Assist You When the Court and Court Staff Can’t
Court staff cannot assist you in completing paperwork. And the court will typically not advise you if there is an error in your paperwork. Your case will just not move forward. A divorce lawyer can ensure that your paperwork is completed correctly and keep your case moving throughout the process.
A Lawyer Can Help Getting Your Agreement Approved
Even if both parties agree to terms for a divorce, the agreement must be finalized in court for the divorce to be legal. When your attorney assists with paperwork and drafts the agreement, your divorce is more likely to be approved quickly. It can also decrease the chance of future issues.
Lawyers Know and Understand the Divorce Process
Divorce attorneys deal with the divorce process daily. They are aware of all the steps that one must complete before a divorce can be finalized. Missing even a minor step can complicate the process and even cause your divorce to not be approved.
Your Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights
While you and your spouse may have agreed on the issues of your divorce, that doesn’t necessarily mean that what you are getting is a fair settlement. So often, people walk away from a DIY divorce, losing out on alimony claims, significant property settlements, and even assuming responsibility for marital debt that should have been divided between both spouses.
Your lawyer will not stand in the way of submitting your divorce agreement as is. They will, however, take the time to review it and inform you of rights that you may have that are not reflected in the divorce agreement.
A Lawyer Can Help With Financial and Property Issues
Although you and your soon-to-be-ex have agreed on how to divide marital assets and property, actually doing so can be complicated. This is especially true when dividing a retirement account. An order called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order is often required. The process of completing this is complicated, and you will most likely not be able to do so without the help of an attorney.
There can also be tax issues in the divorce or the division of assets that you must consider. If this is not done properly, you can face significant consequences.
Don’t DIY Your Divorce. Let Hunter Fowler Be Your Guide!
Divorce doesn’t have to be expensive. However, a DIY divorce can cost more time and money than it would have if you had hired an attorney in the first place. It’s also important to remember that, like other life-altering events, your divorce can impact you for the rest of your life, so it’s wise to obtain legal counsel to ensure that you receive the best possible outcome.
Attorney Hunter Fowler knows that when you’re going through a divorce, you need someone who will not only listen to you but someone who can guide you through the process. Hunter will be by your side throughout your divorce proceedings to ensure that the outcome is what is best for you and your family.
Contact Hunter Fowler today if you’re ready to talk to an attorney who listens.