why do i need a divorce lawyer

Why Do I Need a Divorce Lawyer?

• Protecting Your Best Interests. Making decisions with your spouse during can prove difficult, as tensions frequently run...
• Situations that Strongly Warrant an Attorney. While a divorce attorney is always an invaluable asset to any case, there...
• Schedule a Consultation with our Sarasota Divorce Lawyers. Our experienced lawyers can help...

Full Answer

What does it take to become a divorce lawyer?

Why talk to a divorce lawyer? Divorce is a process that, at the end of the day, dissolves a legal partnership between two people. The kind of legal representation you need when faced with a divorce depends on the complexity of that partnership. The more complex your divorce, the greater your need will be for legal representation to protect your rights and interests. …

What does a divorce lawyer actually do?

A good lawyer will put that knowledge to work for you throughout the case. Knows What Must be Covered. Divorce cases have lots of moving parts. It’s easy to miss something. An experienced attorney knows what has to be there – and what you should leave out. Your attorney can spot issues that you haven’t even considered. Knows How to Focus on What’s Most Important. …

What to look for in a good divorce attorney?

Jun 15, 2020 · Do You Need a Divorce Lawyer? You May Not Need a Divorce Lawyer for Everything: Making Decisions on Your Own. If you're able to work together with... Keep Tensions Low: Divorce Lawyers Can Fan the Flames or Provide a Calm Perspective. Because of their very nature,... When You May Need a Divorce ...

What are good questions to ask a divorce lawyer?

May 01, 2018 · Why Do I Need a Divorce Lawyer? Protecting Your Best Interests. Making decisions with your spouse during can prove difficult, as tensions frequently run... Situations that Strongly Warrant an Attorney. While a divorce attorney is always an invaluable asset to any case, there... Schedule a ...

Make Divorce Decisions by Yourselves

In theory, at least, it's simple: It's usually best if you and your spouse can work out thorny issues together, perhaps with help from a neutral th...

Keep Divorce Lawyers from Fanning The Flames

When you're emotionally distraught or angry, turning all the details and hassle of a divorce over to a divorce lawyer may seem like a perfect solut...

How Collaborative Practice Works

Some family lawyers are trying a relatively new divorce method called "collaborative practice," in which the clients and lawyers agree that they wi...

When to Hire A Divorce Lawyer

It makes a lot of sense to hire a lawyer if there is a real problem with abuse - spousal, child, sexual or substance abuse. In these situations, it...

What is a mediator in divorce?

Mediators are trained at getting both sides to set aside emotions and focus down on the facts that are essential to a successful divorce. Unlike lawyers, mediators have the advantage of working with both spouses at the same time, which can cut down on unnecessary communication delay.

What is alimony in divorce?

Alimony. Division of property. Working together with your spouse through the divorce process can have a lot of advantages, including: You'll have better control over the vital issues that will be raised during your divorce instead of leaving them up to the court.

What is limited scope representation?

When you hire a lawyer to help you with certain aspects of your divorce, it is referred to as limited-scope representation. Lawyers who offer "unbundled" services often do so at a flat fee, which is usually more cost-effective than hiring a lawyer to represent you for full-scope representation.

Do you have to appear in court to get divorced?

Depending upon the state you live in, you may not even have to appear in court to have your divorce finalized, if you can show that the divorce is uncontested and you have worked everything out. However, many states do require short court hearings when minor children are involved.

What is collaborative practice?

In short, collaborative practice is an agreement among the spouses and attorneys not to litigate and, instead, focus on settlement. Generally speaking, collaborative practice lawyers will only agree to represent a client when the other side has also hired or agrees to hire a collaborative practice attorney.

Can I file for divorce without a lawyer?

If you and your spouse agree on all the terms of your divorce, you can file for an uncontested divorce without the help of a lawyer. However, it is always advisable to at least have a lawyer look through your agreement in an uncontested divorce to make sure that your rights and interests are protected. A lawyer can also make sure that your ...

Should I hire a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?

As noted above, even in an uncontested divorce, it's a good idea for each party to have a lawyer at least look over the agreement to check for problems and legal risks. Many people don't realize that you can hire a lawyer to help with only certain things in your divorce such as: Thank you for subscribing!

What to talk about when you divorce your spouse?

When you and your spouse decide to divorce, if you can communicate, try to talk about each of your ideal outcomes for child custody, visitation, child support, property division, and alimony.

What is collaborative divorce?

In collaborative practice, both sides agree to share information voluntarily and work towards a settlement. In order to use this process, your spouse will need to agree to a collaborative divorce and hire a collaborative lawyer as well.

Can you represent yourself in divorce?

Although you might feel like you can represent yourself in your divorce, when one side has an attorney and the other doesn't, it often results in the unrepresented party walking away without a fair deal. Do yourself a favor, hire an attorney and level the playing field.

Is divorce pleasant?

Do yourself a favor, hire an attorney and level the playing field. Although no divorce is pleasant, some are outright unbearable, especially if the other party in your case is hiding assets, destroying property, wasting marital funds, or threatening you with physical or financial ruin for filing for divorce.

Can a divorce be settled on your own?

Although divorce is one of the most complex and emotional legal processes in family law, not all couples require in-depth court assistance to end their marriage. If you and your spouse are on the same page about what you want for your family, you may be able to negotiate a divorce settlement on your own.

Why should I hire an attorney for divorce?

For example, if there is child custody and support issues, substantial income, debts, assets or future assets (an inheritance, etc.) then you should hire an attorney to protect your interests in a divorce.

How to reduce stress in divorce?

Reduce Stress. Divorce is a stressful time for everyone involved. Hiring an attorney to complete a divorce is one way to reduce the stress of the divorce. While the attorney will need to gather information from you, he or she will take care of almost everything else, allowing you more time to take care of yourself and your family.

What happens if you forget to address an issue in a divorce?

If you simply forget 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 or will require future legal proceedings to correct.

Can a divorce decree be reviewed?

Though a court will review any divorce documents that you present, the court may not understand what you are trying to do on each point of the divorce. This may result in a divorce decree that states something other than what you intended. By using an attorney, you can be certain that the legal documents presented to the court will accurately state your wishes and that the divorce decree will be free of errors or unclear language that may make parts of the agreement difficult or impossible to enforce.

Can I file for divorce without legal counsel?

Though a person may use court provided documents to file for divorce, there can still be problems with completing the proper forms and providing adequate information and documentation. A person who goes to court without legal counsel may find that problems with the paperwork or other issues may result in a delay in the court's ruling. This may substantially delay the date that the divorce is final. By hiring an attorney, a person can avoid paperwork or other problems that could cause a delay and get the divorce completed as quickly as possible.

Can I file for divorce on my own?

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 some situations, most people should consider hiring an attorney to represent their interests. Here are five reasons that a person should consider ...