Divorce can be a lot to deal with, and deciding whether to go through it alone or get legal advice is a key decision to take. There’s no easy solution to this – the degree of complication in the marriage, how well you can continue to communicate with each other, and the amount of time needed to deal with various documents come into play.
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What a DIY divorce looks like
Proceeding with a divorce without a lawyer works well when both parties have already agreed on key issues such as dividing assets, child custody, and financial support. These are known as “uncontested” divorces and center on completing necessary forms rather than contesting issues of fact.
Going the DIY route usually means:
- Looking up the state’s filing rules and residency requirements
- Filling out and submitting court paperwork correctly
- Figuring out child support using state guidelines
- Putting together a parenting plan or custody agreement
- Showing up to any required court dates without a lawyer
If you have a straightforward financial situation and an ex-partner willing to work together, this option can help you save a lot of money!
Where legal document forms come in
The hardest part of a DIY divorce is usually dealing with the paperwork. Courts have high standards when it comes to layout and language, and a single missing signature can cause delays of weeks. That’s where self-signed legal document forms come in handy. Online services such as YourForms provide templates for this reason: to guide you through completing every part. Using solid legal document templates instead of hiring a lawyer to create all documents from scratch can help save a good amount of money. Keep in mind that legal forms cannot provide legal advice; hence they are useful when the issue involved is quite clear-cut!
When it’s worth hiring a lawyer
Some divorces just aren’t simple, and some situations aren’t safe to handle alone. It’s worth getting a lawyer involved if any of these apply:
- There are significant assets, retirement accounts, or a business to split
- One spouse might be hiding money or income
- There’s a history of abuse or controlling behavior
- Custody is being contested
- One spouse knows a lot more about finances or the law than the other
- Spousal support or tricky tax stuff is on the table
In such cases, an attorney is doing more than just dealing with paperwork – they’re helping to secure a mother’s financial future and provide stability for her children. Attorneys can identify issues self-represented parents might not think to ask about, including what happens to a retirement fund during divorce or how child custody arrangements could affect future moves.
Cost vs. risk
Money is usually the deciding factor, and that’s reasonable. A DIY divorce can cost several hundred dollars in court fees, whereas one involving lawyers can be expensive in the thousands. But cheap does not always mean cheap in the long run – poor financial arrangements or undervalued assets can lead to financial losses far greater than those incurred through paying lawyers.
Some moms seek a middle ground: paying a lawyer a fixed fee to review a self-drafted contract or retaining one solely to handle child custody issues while dealing with other matters alone. It provides access to legal advice without having to pay the entire cost.
Bottom line
It’s all about being truthful about just how complicated the situation is and to what extent the two parties are capable of being able to trust each other. A peaceful, uncomplicated divorce can be managed through suitable legal documents and some patience. A more complex situation, however, almost certainly requires legal advice. Either way, the goal is the same – coming out the other side financially secure and ready to build the next chapter.
