What Happens If You Get Divorced Without a Lawyer?

No one likes the idea of standing on the opposite side of a courtroom with your spouse, each flanked by your lawyers, when you once stood at the altar together and exchanged wedding vows.  Even if you and your spouse have reached the decision that you cannot stay married to each other, it is understandable to want to finalize your divorce as amicably as possible.  Not only is conflict in divorce emotionally painful, but it also costs time and money that you cannot afford to lose.  In the short term, the worst-case scenario is that your divorce case goes to trial; trials are expensive, and at least one spouse ends up with an outcome so undesirable that he or she was willing to go to trial to avoid it.  The good news is that most divorce cases do not involve a trial.  The bad news is that some divorces that seem amicable while they are going on can lead to resentment that manifests itself in years of co-parenting conflict and strained familial relationships.  For help managing conflict in your divorce and getting a successful outcome, contact a Boca Raton divorce lawyer.

Working With the Resources You Have

If the question is whether it is possible to represent yourself in a divorce case, the answer is yes.  When people represent themselves in divorce cases, it is usually because their financial situation is so dire that even the filing fee for a divorce case is painful.  These people usually end up getting an uncontested divorce, which is not such a bad idea for them because they own little marital property.

The court will accept a contested divorce petition and its response if the parties don’t have lawyers, but remember that you get what you pay for.  It will be you and your spouse in divorce mediation; this means that your spouse can bully you into signing a property division agreement and parenting plan that give your ex a huge advantage.  It could also mean that you clobber each other in divorce mediation until the case goes to trial and then the judge signs a divorce judgment that satisfies no one.

When Your Ex Has a Lawyer but You Don’t

Sometimes the presence of lawyers reduces conflict in divorce instead of increasing it.  If your ex-spouse hires a lawyer, you should communicate with the lawyer as if you are communicating with a neutral party.  If this sounds daunting, you should also hire a lawyer.  If your ex earns much more money than you do, you can request in your response to the divorce petition that your ex pay your attorneys’ fees.

Collaborative Divorce Means Saying Yes to Lawyers but No to Litigation

In collaborative divorce, both parties hire lawyers, but they negotiate far from court-ordered mediation.  Instead, they wait until they have worked out all the details with the help of their lawyers; only after that, they filed an uncontested divorce petition.

Contact Schwartz | White About Managing Conflict in Your Divorce

A South Florida family law attorney can help you resolve contentious issues in your divorce, even if you have limited resources.  Contact Schwartz | White in Boca Raton, Florida about your case.

Source:

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