If you are currently going through a divorce, or you are looking to begin the process of filing for a divorce, then you may be wondering whether you need to consult a divorce attorney or if you can deal with the divorce proceedings on your own. While many people may be tempted to handle the divorce process on their own, the fact is that filing for divorce is a complicated, and often messy, process, and attempting to go through this difficult time alone can leave you vulnerable. If you or your spouse is filing for divorce, here are just a few of the reasons why it is critical that you hire a divorce attorney to guide you through this process.
Get Objective Advice During This Difficult Time
Divorce is often a difficult and emotional time for both parties involved, as either spouse may be experiencing feelings of sadness, anger, fear, betrayal, and frustration. This state of heightened emotions can often cause one or both parties to act irrationally, leading them to do and say things they will later regret. This is why it can be important to hire an experienced divorce lawyer, as a lawyer– being an objective third party– can help you to keep your emotions in check and can make sure you are making logical, reasonable decisions. Perhaps most importantly, lawyers can act as buffers between you and your spouse, preventing any need for communication during this time, as this would probably only make the situation worse.
An Attorney Handles Complex Paperwork
One of the most important reasons to hire a divorce attorney is that they can guide you through the layers of complex paperwork and documentation a divorce requires. People often underestimate not only how much paperwork goes into filing for divorce, but also, how complex these legal documents are. Should you attempt to represent yourself, you will likely find yourself drowning in paperwork and legal vocabulary you do not understand. Not only will this add to your stress during this difficult time, but also, this leaves you vulnerable to making mistakes that could slow down, or even sidetrack, the divorce proceedings. A divorce attorney will be able to remove this burden by taking care of much of the legwork and by guiding you through the documents, helping to ensure that everything is done right the first time.
Get Options You May Not Know You Had
An experienced divorce attorney will be familiar with the divorce laws in your jurisdiction. Thusly, they will be able to provide you with options based on your unique situation that you may not have known were available to you. For instance, your divorce may best be resolved through an alternative resolution process such as mediation rather than in court, which could potentially save you time and money. An attorney will be able to present you with your options, and they will work with you to decide which option will produce the best outcome based on your situation.
Protect Yourself From Being Taken Advantage Of
It is particularly important that you hire a divorce attorney if your spouse has already done the same. If the other party has an experienced lawyer on their side and you do not, this will not only leave you at a disadvantage, but also, it could leave you vulnerable to being taken advantage of. Without realizing it, you may agree to a settlement that is much more favorable to the other party, which could have been avoided if you had an attorney to guide you through this process. As soon as your spouse hires an attorney, it is critical that you do the same in order to protect yourself.
Going through a divorce can be difficult enough, do not make this time harder on yourself by forgoing representation. Contact us to learn more about the importance of consulting a Boca Raton divorce attorney before you file for divorce.