What Do Divorce Lawyers Do, Exactly?
A majority of Americans believe that getting a divorce is better than staying in an unhappy marriage, and that includes what is best for the children in terms of potentially living with two unhappy parents. Still, regardless of your circumstances, you may have questions about what exactly divorce attorneys do and how having an attorney compares to, for example, trying to amicably reach an agreement with your spouse and file the divorce paperwork yourself online.
Below, we discuss some of the specific things that divorce attorneys do so that you can weigh your options and decide what is best for you:
Take On The Stressful, Difficult Issues
Handling the divorce process on your own can be physically and emotionally draining in terms of frequently having to discuss these important issues with your spouse. The resulting stress can also bleed into other important areas of your life, such as your relationship with your children or your job. Your attorney is going to take the stress off your shoulders and address these issues directly themselves so that you do not have to, which then provides you with the time and peace of mind to prioritize other important areas of your life.
Bring Experience & Knowledge Of Locally Practicing Divorce Law To Your Case
Handling a divorce also requires that you be intimately familiar with the divorce laws in your state. Simply because you are representing yourself does that mean that you have a free pass from the court to make mistakes. In fact, doing so can be extremely frustrating to the judge.
Divorce attorneys have not only been focusing on and handling divorce cases (presumably) during their entire careers, but have also been practicing locally and, as a result, know the local courts and their judges, which can be especially beneficial in your case.
Provide Objective Advice & Options
It can be difficult to make reasonable decisions during this time, especially if those decisions are clouded by anger, guilt, or sadness, but receiving objective advice can be a saving grace. Your attorney is also going to be able to provide you with an objective opinion as well as options that you likely did not think of on your own.
Help You Prioritize What’s Important & Reach Agreement
Being able to reach an agreement with your spouse on everything is also very rare, even when the split is amicable. In this endeavor, attorneys often act as mediators in helping parties reach agreements by helping them to prioritize which demands are most important to them, and in doing so, saving them time, money, and stress. As a result, instead of you arguing over issues that may not even be in your best interest, they can help to expedite the entire process.
Handle Important Documents
Perhaps most importantly, in divorce, very specific paperwork needs to be filed correctly and on time. Frequently, those who rely on online templates end up filling out the wrong forms that may not comply with state legal requirements, and they may not be filed on time. Divorce attorneys, however, have been filling out these documents for all of their divorce cases and, as a result, know what they are doing and are more likely to provide all of the correct information on time.
A Level Playing Field
In addition, if you are not represented by counsel, but your spouse is, you also face significant risk in that they will have a leg up when it comes to important things such as child custody. Conversely, having an attorney representing you helps ensure that you are able to do what is in your and your child’s best interest.
Contact Our Florida Family Law Attorneys for Assistance Today
Few issues are harder fought than those involving divorce and family law. If you live in Florida and need assistance on these issues, contact West Palm Beach divorce lawyer William Wallshein today to set up a safe, confidential consultation. We serve clients in and around Broward and Palm Beach counties, and well as throughout South Florida.
Resource:
parlemag.com/2020/05/what-do-divorce-lawyers-do-in-a-divorce/
