Do I Need A Divorce Lawyer When I Can Do This Myself?
Do I Need A Divorce Lawyer When I Can Do This Myself?
If this is the question you are asking, then we have to turn to the questions:
- Are you a licensed and practicing lawyer?
- Do you specialize in family law and divorce proceedings?
- Do you have a number of divorce cases settled in your client’s favor?
If you answer ‘no’ to any or all of these questions, then we can answer your initial question “Do you need a divorce lawyer?” Yes, you do.
Why? Almost everyone can do this nowadays.
Unsurprisingly, that is the mantra of books and websites who offer you step-by-step methods on handling your own divorce proceedings. Almost everyone can file for a divorce; but not everyone can win in the divorce proceeding itself, should the case go to family court. In many cases, divorces are not finalized, because both parties thought that the submission of divorce papers to the courthouse was the final step- it is not.
Often, people, who try to work on their own, cannot even complete the submission of the documents, let alone stand as a pro se (or self-representing divorce lawyer) in a court session. Having legal representation in court is one of the best moves you could make.
Besides making the divorce process go more smoothly, it also shows that you are a person of rational thinking. The former can help cut down the cost of all your divorce-related expenses whilst the latter speaks volumes if you are contesting child custody or property ownership.
What’s the importance of a divorce lawyer?
If you want a step-by-step guide on these proceedings, a good divorce lawyer should be able to provide this for you. He or she can help you greatly when it comes to navigating the legal jargon surrounding court proceedings, as well as the standard protocol in the court session. When it comes to knowing what papers to file and scheduling your case for a court hearing, the divorce lawyer can do you a lot of good.
Even if you do have legal educational background, you know exactly what papers to submit, and you are experienced in divorce court proceedings, you would still need a divorce lawyer to represent you in court. Naturally, you will be emotionally tied to the case, and you need an outsider (to the marriage) to give you a more objective appraisal of the situation, and guide you on a rational course of action.
You should remember that books and websites give you simple techniques on how to carry yourself in court, but are too general in nature, giving broad descriptions of other cases. Each case, and your case especially, is different from everyone else’s. Your divorce lawyer should be able to plan your next move, taking into account your particular needs, wants and present circumstances.
One final advantage of having a good divorce lawyer is that, if all heck breaks loose, your legal representative should be able to find alternative measures for you, such as an appeal at a later date, opting for a private settlement agreement instead of court settlement, etc. It is always good to hope that everything will go your way, but a good lawyer should be able to tell you if things are going bad, or just about to go bad.
