Divorce Law

Chances are, you probably know of people who suffered the torments of going through a divorce and you probably know people who managed to get through it with little to no fuss. Why are some divorces sensible and rational while others resemble a catastrophic melee? And do you really need a divorce attorney to settle these issues for you?

The answer lies in several factors, including the personalities of the people involved, the importance and magnitude of what is at stake, and sometimes it even comes down to the divorce attorney you choose. However, in general, the less you use the court, the less costs and heartache will be associated with the break up and in many cases you will find you’ve arrived at a more satisfying result.
Making Divorce Decisions by Yourselves

It’s simple really. Forgo the divorce attorney and the courts. You will usually do best if you and your spouse can work out thorny issues together, if you need to hire a mediator do so, but both of you should want to keep control over vital matters such as how and where your children will be raised, what happens to the family home, and how your property will be divided. Oftentimes, these issues are more satisfactorily settled through negotiations rather than by a judge’s gavel. If you and your spouse can solve these issues without the help of a divorce attorney, or the courts at all, you will save yourself time, money, and anguish. More importantly, you will spare your children the sight of their parents going head-to-head, in court or otherwise.

If you are able to resolve the bigger questions at hand (children, money, and property) you just then need to ask the court, in writing, to grant a divorce. In fact, in many states, you don’t even have to appear in court. Many courts are now making it relatively easy for people to handle an uncontested divorce without retaining a divorce attorney.

When you’re going through the emotional angst of a divorce, it can seem like the perfect solution to turn over all the relevant hassles to a divorce attorney. Unfortunately, simplifying the procedure is not always in the best interest of the divorce attorney.

It is critical to find the right divorce attorney. Know exactly how much help you want and make it a point in how confrontational you’d like your divorce attorney to be. This means knowing whether your divorce attorney will pursue lengthy litigation or negotiate a settlement and how willing they are to do either. A divorce attorney will zealously pursue their client’s interests, so make sure you let them know you plan on reaching an amicable settlement. You should get what you ask for.