DIY Divorce Vs Hiring A Divorce Attorney — Which Is Better?

Posted on: 1 March 2023

Thanks to access to the internet, you may not have to go to a divorce law firm when you decide you want to dissolve a marriage. Many DIY divorces happen a year, and, for some couples, everything may seem to work out fine. Due to this known fact, a lot of people opt to try to handle filing for divorce on their own and never seek legal counsel. The question is whether a DIY divorce is really a good idea.

In reality, even if you can file for a divorce on your own without an attorney, it is always better to get the help of a divorce attorney for the dissolution of a marriage. Take a look at why this is the case. 

A DIY divorce can mean you don't know your rights

Every state has its own set of rules and regulations that have to be followed when you choose to file for a divorce. Therefore, the process can get pretty complicated if you are not working with a divorce attorney to guide you through. You may run into issues that you don't fully understand, such as: 

  • The terminology used in the filing paperwork 
  • The laws that dictate how property should be divided 
  • The laws that will apply if you share custody of children 
  • The rules you have to follow to protect your rights before you file the paperwork 

A DIY divorce can mean costly mistakes when dividing property 

A lot of couples assume that marital property should be split equally during a divorce, but this is not always the case. There are circumstances in which one party or the other has a right to a greater percentage. For example, if a business was acquired by one party before the marriage, the spouse may not always have a right to half of the business. 

A DIY divorce is just as final as any other divorce 

In the event you do recognize a problem with how you divided property during the dissolution of marriage, your divorce will be final once the judge signs off on it and cannot be undone. For example, if you accidentally divide your monetary assets in an unfair way but only catch the problem once the divorce is final, the fact that you represented yourself will not make any difference in the eyes of the law. The only option you will have is to take the problem up with your ex-spouse to see if they will work with you to make the mistake right. 

Contact a divorce law firm for more information. 

Share