What a Divorce Lawyer Can Do that You Can’t Do Yourself

rnThe divorce rate is continuing to go up, and people are beginning to look at the actual cost of hiring a divorce lawyer—after all, getting divorced is substantially more expensive than getting married even if you use a do it yourself divorce kit. Many people are beginning to ask whether it is really necessary to spend the money on a divorce lawyer and what benefits it provides. Some couples rush into things without consulting a divorce lawyer and later regret their decisions. They tend to agree to things just to rush the process without knowing the laws in their state of residence. rnWhile hiring a divorce lawyer may seem like you are spending unnecessary funds, it can actually be to your advantage. However, you do want to make sure you and your soon-to-be-ex choose different divorce lawyers in order to assure you both receive exactly what you are entitled to in the divorce. Some of the things you can expect from a divorce lawyer include the following: • Valuation of all propertyrn• Fair and equitable assessment of all assetsrn• Distribution of all outstanding debtsrn• Assignment of all property—house, household goods, vehicles, etc. • Preparation of amenities such as child support, visitation, custody, spousal support and/or alimonyrn• Handling all negotiations on your behalf—you will not need to speak to your ex-spouse but instead your divorce lawyer will talk to your ex-spouses divorce lawyerrn• Representing you in court at the hearingrn• Determination of any interest in retirement funds, 401K Plans, savings accounts, and even continuance of health insurancernOne thing to remember is that a contested divorce is much more expensive than an uncontested divorce. Even if you live in a state that recognizes no-fault divorce, your ex-spouse can still make an attempt to contest the divorce—it will probably not be granted, but the court is obligated to hear it. You are in a much better position when you and your spouse agree to part ways, and it is better for the children if you can part amicably. However, this does not mean you should forego using a divorce lawyer by any means. rnOne mistake many people make when they don’t use a divorce lawyer is to depend on “word of mouth” instead of having things in writing. A divorce lawyer will make sure everything is in the divorce decree so there is no question about any of the provisions. It will not be possible for your ex-spouse to come back at a later date and say he/she did not agree to the terms because it will all be in writing and will also be signed off by the court at the time the final divorce decree is issued.rnIt’s important to choose a divorce lawyer who has a great deal of experience and expertise. Do not choose a divorce lawyer based on his or her fee schedule but rather the level of competence and experience a particular divorce lawyer brings to the table and how well that divorce lawyer can represent you in court.