If you were only married for a very short time, have no children or assets, and just want to walk away with no financial obligations to each other, you may be able to divorce with little legal help. However, a majority of married couples looking to split do not fall into these categories.
Even if you think your divorce will be easy, there are still five very good reasons to hire a divorce attorney:
- Experience.
Representing yourself in a legal proceeding is intimidating. The judge will not cut you any slack because you don’t know anything about the law. And the more you irritate the judge, the less sympathetic he or she is likely to be to your case. An experienced divorce attorney knows how the system works, and can work that system for your benefit. And if your soon-to-be ex has already hired a lawyer, you’ll already be five steps behind.
- Objectivity.
Divorce is always emotional, and it’s hard to be objective when it’s happening to you. Just the process of divorce is enough to cloud anyone’s judgment, making it more difficult for you to make good decisions. Having an attorney on your side to provide you with sound, strategic advice for moving forward is invaluable. He or she can help you find other professionals who can help you deal with the emotional stress of a divorce, and help you keep a clear head. Your attorney can also advise you when you are being unreasonable about what you want and why you are unlikely to get it.
- Options.
An experienced divorce attorney will be able to assess your particular situation and let you know what you can likely expect if your case goes to court. He or she can help you develop a reasonable settlement proposal or review the other party’s proposal and advise you if you should accept it, revise it, or fight it out in court. There are few scenarios an experienced divorce lawyer has not seen — their experience provides you with options.
- Knowledge of the process.
Divorce is a legal process, and with that comes lots of paperwork. If that paperwork is incorrect or incomplete, your case is in jeopardy. If you mistakenly omit something, you could be accused of trying to hide something, which damages your credibility. A divorce lawyer knows exactly what type of information you need to proceed with your divorce and how to handle the necessary paperwork properly to ensure your side has a fair hearing.
- Perspective.
There is no legal allowance for getting revenge in a divorce proceeding. Your divorce attorney will help you focus on the big picture because he or she wants to obtain the best deal possible for you. A good lawyer will not let you fight for something you can’t possibly win. A good lawyer will help you set priorities so you will end up with what you need, even if you have to make a few compromises along the way.
By handling cases with the dignity and respect they deserve, we have helped many families in New Jersey civilly resolve their divorce, rebuild a satisfying life, and confidently step into the next chapter of their lives. Contact us today for your free consultation.
