If you are planning to go to divorce court alone, you are making a very costly mistake. Divorce court is no place for an unrepresented party, particularly where there are significant assets or children involved. You need a divorce attorney to help you divide assets fairly and determine a workable custody and child support arrangement.
You need a competent and qualified divorce attorney to help you navigate the winding corridors of your state’s family court system. Take a few seconds to read this short article. You will learn how having a divorce attorney could save you thousands of dollars and ensure that you maintain proper access to your children.
In a divorce proceeding, one of the major issues is fairly valuing and dividing the assets of the marital estate. The more property in the estate, the more the parties need to enlist the assistance of a divorce attorney.
While this might be straightforward with respect to retirement accounts, cash and marketable securities, valuing a business or other intangible asset is more complicated. A competent divorce attorney has the expertise to help you determine the value of each asset. Even though property is a major concern, it is custody and support that constitutes the greatest complicating factor in a divorce
Many divorce proceedings get ugly when it comes time to negotiate custody arrangements. The legal standard in most states is to fashion a solution that is in “the best interest of the children.”
Children do not ask for the parents to get divorced and rely upon their parents to have the maturity to do what is best for them. Add the complicating factor that, in many states, older children can have a significant voice in determining their primary custodian. Custody is complicated and underscores the need to hire a qualified divorce attorney to arrive at a fair and equitable solution for the parties.
If you have significant property or children, you need to find a divorce attorney to assist you in preserving your rights. You can research attorneys in your area over the internet or accept the recommendation of a friend or relative.
A divorce attorney (as opposed to a general practitioner) will possess the expertise to discover and properly value all of the assets in the marital estate. Furthermore, the divorce lawyer will help you craft a custody and support arrangement that is fair and represents the “best interest of the children.” A divorce attorney will ensure that you are treated fairly and that your voice is heard by the family court even where you are too emotional to think or speak rationally.
Look, representing yourself in a divorce proceeding is a stupid move, especially if you have a lot of property or you have minor children. It is difficult to value and fairly divide property, particularly where your spouse is represented and you are not. More importantly, where you have to negotiate child support and custody, you are at a significant disadvantage when compared to someone who is represented by competent divorce counsel.
If you objectively consider the high stakes involved, you must admit that hiring a divorce attorney represents a wise investment of your time and effort.
Find out more on how to select a divorce lawyer.
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