Should You Lawyer up When Your Spouse Wants a Divorce?

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If you and/or your spouse have decided that it is time to end your marriage, one of the first things you should ask yourselves is whether you need a divorce lawyer to help you handle your affairs. It’s not the easiest question to answer because it really depends on your situation. In general, the less you have to rely on the courts to solve your problem, then the more smoothly your divorce will proceed. If you’re still stuck on the idea, here are some considerations on whether a divorce attorney would be right for you.

Making Some Decisions On Your Own

There are some matters of a divorce that you can decide on with your spouse, such as alimony, the division of property, child support, and/or the custody of any minor children. Doncaster based family lawyers can definitely help, but making these decisions without hiring an attorney can have several benefits.

• Children go through a much smoother transition when parents work out the divorce themselves.
• You’ll have more control over the vital issues that matter the most during your divorce.
• You’ll save a lot of time and money by not hiring a divorce attorney.

Settling matters with your spouse is called an uncontested divorce and you can ask the court to grant you a divorce in writing. However, it might be important to have an attorney look over the terms of the divorce agreement to ensure that your rights and interests are protected.

Divorce Lawyers Can Be Polarizing To The Relationship

Attorneys can either fan the flames or provide a calm perspective as to what’s going on during the divorce process. Emotions are running high during this time, and it can be easy to lose yourself in it. But you should look for an attorney who is going to want to work with both you and your spouse during the divorce agreement together. A few questions you can ask are:

• Does your attorney have a track record of battling out even the most minor issues in front of a judge?
• Would your attorney support a decision to seek a settlement outside of court?
• Does your attorney prefer collaborative options to fighting in court?

This can help you find a divorce lawyer who has the strategy that you’re looking for.

Divorce Mediation

A divorce lawyer isn’t always necessary; you might want to consider mediators. They’re trained at getting both parties to put their emotions aside and focus on the facts so that a successful divorce can take place. They have the advantage of working with both parties at the same time while not advocating for either side at the same time. This can lead to more successful divorces where both parties are getting exactly what they want.

Situations Where You Might Need A Divorce Lawyer

There are specific situations where it would be best to hire an attorney, including:

• your spouse has retained an attorney
• abuse is present in the relationship
• you think your spouse is lying or being vindictive about certain issues
• there are children or certain financial issues present

If you’re financially unable to hire a divorce attorney, then you should contact your local legal aid office or bar association to see what kind of help you can receive. You could qualify for free or reduced costs of legal representation. If not, you may still be able to ask any questions you may have throughout the divorce proceedings.