The growth of legal information on social media and articles greatly impacts society holistically. As a result, many people wonder whether there is a need to appoint an attorney or not during divorce matters. Due to legal information and advice being accessible to the public online, many believe appointing an attorney is unnecessary.
Having a divorce attorney helps safeguard your rights and interest during the process of divorce. Even though not appointing an attorney might seem cost-effective and unnecessary if you already agreed on, for example, the division of the assets and a parenting plan for the children, doing it on your own could lead to unwanted results:
- You do not have the necessary legal knowledge
It is important to understand your legal rights to prevent a violation of such rights by your spouse during divorce proceedings. Even though online research could give you a brief background of these rights, appointing an attorney would help in the practicality and the proper enforcement of what would be rightfully yours.
Attorneys are the guards in protecting your rights and interests, as they will often advise on issues that impact your marriage, such as maintenance claims and issues relating to custody or children’s access.
- The divorce procedure may be prolonged by unforeseen delays
Divorce can be challenging in numerous ways, regardless of the cause. Many people wish quick divorce to save time and money but then overlook other challenges that could impact them in the long run.
Certain documents must also be filed in court to meet all the requirements necessary to effect divorce. It will be detrimental to your case should you submit any incorrect documents in court. Failing to submit the correct required documents will be avoided by appointing an attorney to guarantee just and fair results.
- Many legal documents to complete
Divorce proceedings, like many other court proceedings, involve a lot of documentation, which requires you to read and comprehend certain complicated agreements before signing and submitting them timeously. This can be time-consuming. Appointing a skilled attorney could remove this burden, as they are well informed and have the knowledge of what is expected when filing required documents at court.
- Could lead to unfair agreements
Conflicts between divorcing spouses mainly stem from the division of assets and issues regarding children. Getting a divorce without legal representation may lead to unjust arrangements that deprive you of what is rightfully yours.
Even if you and your spouse had agreed to divide the joint assets and liabilities equally, you might not be aware of the complicated laws governing property division. Therefore, by appointing an attorney, you can be sure that every agreement will be properly examined to safeguard your interests.
- You could be driven by emotion and stress
Whether the decision to divorce is mutual or not, it is stressful and emotionally draining. You will have to deal with important choices like child custody, access to your child, maintenance, and property distribution, in addition to the court deadlines and appearances.
Without an attorney, stress and emotions can quickly impair your judgment, leading you to make choices that you may regret.
Therefore, it is always advisable to consult an attorney who will offer an unbiased opinion of your case and make sure you make the best choice possible.
- Keep your rights and interests protected by consulting a divorce attorney
It is possible to get a divorce without a lawyer, but we strongly advise against this. The most effective option is to appoint an attorney, especially where there are other serious issues that could affect your family, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse.
Didintle Mokotedi, Van Velden-Duffey Inc
