Divorce: Do You Need A Lawyer?
If you are contemplating or have decided to move forward with a divorce, it can be easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of information that is available to you on the internet about how to go about the process. Not only do you have to go through the emotional process of divorce itself, but then you have a plethora of information about what to do and it can turn a difficult situation into a nightmare.
But what happens if you take the wrong advice when filing for divorce and make a mistake? Or, if you experience difficulty interpreting your state’s divorce laws, you could potentially lose your rights to marital property in your divorce.
In today’s post, our NYC family lawyers will be discussing some key items to take into consideration when going through a divorce in regards to hiring a lawyer. While most states don’t require you to have one, they can make the process that much easier as they not only offer you extensive legal knowledge to provide you with the best outcome possible and protect your interests, but also emotional support. Continue reading to learn more, and if you would like more information about services we can provide, give us a call at the Law Office of Diron Rutty today.
NAVIGATING DIVORCE WITHOUT A LAWYER
Divorce is one of the most emotional and complex legal processes in family law. But, if you and your spouse are on the same page about what your wishes are in regards to your family, home, finances, etc. that will be divided during divorce, it often does not require in-depth court assistance with ending your marriage and can often be settled on your own.
Communication is one of the most important factors when it comes to determining whether or not you should hire a lawyer. If you and your spouse can communicate and work together to find your ideal outcomes for child custody, child support, property division, alimony, and so on, not only does it make the divorce process that much more simple, but it often allows the children to handle the situation much better if the parents can be civil with one another. If you find that you and your spouse are on the same page and are willing to put your agreement in writing, you may not need to hire an attorney. However, even the most civil couples can encounter hiccups and roadblocks during the settlement process — so be prepared to consider mediation and/or hiring a family lawyer if this occurs.
WORKING WITH A FAMILY LAWYER
Although you may experience feelings of hesitation to hire a family lawyer to help you navigate your divorce, keep in mind that an experienced family lawyer has extensive knowledge of the law, especially as it pertains to your specific state. Each state has different requirements for divorce, so unless you are fully confident in your ability to interpret the different statuses and thoroughly and correctly complete all legal paperwork, we highly recommend consulting with a family lawyer in your area.
WHEN HIRING A FAMILY LAWYER FOR DIVORCE IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST
Most family lawyers will advocate for their clients while also working to revolve the case as quickly and painlessly as possible. So, even if you and your spouse are able to resolve key areas of divorce on your own, hiring a lawyer is never a bad idea to help explain the process and speed it up in order to allow you both to move forward.
There are also specific situations where you should always hire a lawyer. If there is any history of domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse, or anything along those lines, hiring a laywer is the best way to protect your rights and advocate for you in court. When there is an imbalance in power or violence between partners, a fair and civil divorce can become impossible.
You will also absolutely want to hire a family lawyer if your spouse does. Although you may feel as though you can represent yourself in your divorce, when one party has a lawyer and the other does not, it oftentimes results in the unrepresented party walking away from divorce without a fair deal. So, do yourself a favor and hire a lawyer in order to level out the playing field.
At the Law Office of Diron Rutty in NYC, we understand that no divorce is pleasant — and that some are outright unbearable. This is often especially true if your spouse is hiding assets, wasting marital funds, or even threatening you with physical and/or financial ruin for filing for divorce. If you find yourself in a position where you cannot work with your spouse to come to a civil agreement, hiring a qualified family law attorney may be your only option if you want to move forward from your divorce in a fair manner. Not only will they represent you and be in your corner throughout the entire process, but they will advocate for your rights and help to take some of the stress off of the difficult process as you have someone working diligently to bring you the outcome you deserve.
Divorce can be incredibly difficult, but remember that you don’t have to go through it alone — contact our team of family lawyers in New York City today to learn more about how we can help you and your family move forward from divorce in order to have a happy and bright future.
