Do You Need a Divorce Lawyer?
If you and your spouse have decided that it is time to end your marriage one of the top questions is if you need a divorce lawyer or not. It’s not a simple yes or no answer as it is going to depend on your particular situation. As a general rule, the less you have to rely on the courts to solve your problems, the more smoothly your divorce will go.
However, there are certain situations in which a lawyer makes sense and you should probably do it. If you fall into one of the following categories it is most likely going to be in your best interest to get a lawyer involved.
When You May Need a Divorce Lawyer
Just like with many things in life a lawyer can make things easier. That isn’t always the case but there are times a lawyer just makes sense. Here is a list of times it is often in your best interest to hire a lawyer:
- There is a problem with abuse
- You think your spouse is lying about certain issues or being vindictive
- Your spouse has hired a lawyer
- Your divorce involves children or complicated financial issues
If there has been a history of any kind of abuse it is going to be a hire a lawyer situation. It is going to be your best shot at protecting your rights. When there is a power imbalance or violence, a fair negotiation can become impossible on your own.
Just like if your spouse hires a lawyer. Although you might feel like you can represent yourself in your divorce if one side has a lawyer and the other doesn’t it often ends in the unrepresented party walking away with a fair deal.
No divorce is pleasant, and things can get messy even in the best cases. When it comes to things like hiding asses, destroying property, wasting marital funds, or threatening you with physical or financial ruin for filing for divorce, a lawyer is there to help you stay safe.
Fearing Violence
If you have any fear that your spouse may harm you, your children, or your property, it is in your best interest to take out a temporary restraining order and get yourself and your children to a safe place. If you don’t take out the restraining order your spouse may accuse you of kidnapping.
It is in your best interest if you ever fear that your spouse may cause harm to hire a lawyer. You should not represent yourself in this situation as things can get worse. A lawyer is going to protect your rights and make sure that everything is handled. They are going to keep the distance between you and your spouse as much as possible.
Going through a divorce can be rough, and it isn’t an easy task to take on alone. Talking to a divorce lawyer like the ones at May Law LLP can help you see if you need a lawyer or not.