There are a lot of things you can do yourself, but a divorce isn’t one of them. Even if you think you have the world’s most amicable split, getting a divorce is a legal process and the mistakes that can occur if it isn’t done properly can cost you in time and money to remedy — if, in fact, they can be remedied at all!
Having an experienced attorney to guide you through the process is critical to ensuring that you get what you need in your divorce. It is also important to make sure you don’t make any major missteps that could hurt you financially — especially when children are involved.
There are 3 key reasons why you don’t want to go the DIY route for your divorce:
- Spousal debt.
Any joint credit card, mortgage loan, or other debt that the two of you took on together will still be your responsibility if it isn’t handled properly in your divorce settlement agreement. It is not unusual for spouses to be unaware of additional debt that carries their name, and if it is not discovered in the divorce process (which a good attorney can help you do), it will still be yours to pay even after the divorce.
- Negotiating power.
Spouses are very rarely good negotiators when it comes to personal issues. Even if you run a Fortune 500 company, your business expertise will not necessarily translate into divorce expertise. You need an experienced divorce negotiator on your side who can help you determine what is important to fight for and when to compromise.
- It’s complicated.
Issues like property division and alimony are complicated. If one spouse agrees to pay the other to make a property settlement equitable, but then neglects to follow through, you will have to take him or her to court to enforce your rights. A good attorney will help you get security for those payments so you won’t have to waste time and money going to court every time a payment is missed.
When children are involved, things get even trickier. Ensuring that a proper parenting plan is in place and there is sufficient child support to meet your children’s financial needs is pretty important — too important not to have the expertise of a seasoned divorce lawyer to help you avoid the many pitfalls that can occur on the road to divorce.
You can rely on Cistaro Law to skillfully negotiate and mediate your issues to a satisfactory resolution. Should the need arise, you can also count on our experience for being aggressive litigators if the situation calls for a more assertive response. Contact us today for your free consultation.
