One of the most common questions we receive from prospective clients is: “Can I represent myself in a divorce?” The short answer is yes, you can technically represent yourself in your divorce court. However, before you choose to represent yourself in divorce, there are some things that you should be aware of. In this blog, we explain why representing yourself in divorce court without a lawyer can be a disconcerting experience.
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The Dangers of Representing Yourself in Divorce Court
First off, the biggest risk in representing yourself without the help of an attorney is that you might lose your case. This can happen if:
- You are unable to meet all the technical requirements needed to prove your case
- You do not follow all the required court procedures.
In addition to losing your case, the judge might order you to pay for the other side's court costs and attorney's fees. This means that instead of paying for your own attorney to represent you, you could end up paying for your ex-spouse’s legal defense team.
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The Benefits of Hiring an Attorney to Handle Your Divorce
There is a reason that attorneys have to spend years in school learning about all of the complicated nuances of the law. Each state has their own rules and procedures when it comes to divorce cases. Not knowing procedural tasks or being unfamiliar with state restrictions can result in you losing your divorce.
Having a skilled attorney by your side during your divorce will ensure that your case is properly handled. Your attorney can even walk you through the different requirements for each step that is needed to process your divorce.
More importantly, hiring an attorney will help reduce the stress that often comes with getting divorced. Navigating the complicated legal system and the overall stress of divorce can make it difficult to think clearly. Your attorney can handle all of the legal legwork for you while you focus on taking care of yourself and your family.
Thinking about getting divorced? We can help. Contact our attorneys to discuss your case today.