Do I Need A Divorce Lawyer? Think Carefully
One of the most common mistakes made by individuals going through a divorce process is failure to hire a divorce lawyer. Most people will opt to represent themselves (pro se representation) legally in an attempt to save money. There are many disadvantages to pro se representation and it may be more expensive than hiring a divorce lawyer. Moving forward with a divorce process without the proper guidance could have detrimental effects that could have been avoided if you hired a divorce lawyer. Below are the disadvantages of not hiring a divorce lawyer.
Lack of Legal Expertise
Choosing not to hire a lawyer to represent you in the divorce process is a great disadvantage. Unlike an experienced divorce lawyer, you are a beginner in this field. Understanding a legal procedure requires plenty of time and training which apparently you do not have. During the divorce process, your emotions run high and this could prevent you from seeing things in the right perspective. You may think that you are right but the other party may take advantage of this situation. Note that you are not legally required to hire a divorce lawyer in Toronto.
Limited Experience Leads to Inefficiencies
Divorce lawyers have handled multiple divorce cases so they are experts in this field. For couples who have been married for several years, ownership of family assets becomes entangled in the case. If any of the couple has assets that have increased in value, they will definitely be facing tax issues. An experienced divorce lawyer can use their skill and knowledge to come up with solutions to these challenges.
Divorce is a difficult and stressful process for most couples and they would want it to end as soon as possible. An experienced divorce lawyer could help reduce the length of time of the whole process. Divorce lawyers generally make the divorce process much easier because he or she is familiar with court rules and family law.
Settlement Agreements and Unforeseen Issues
A divorce process is likely to get complicated if children are involved. You definitely do not have the expertise and knowledge to ensure your needs is addressed or your rights are protected. The so-called “simple divorce” has agreements for child custody, support and distribution of family assets. Divorce lawyers can write settle agreements that can remain effective for many years.
An experienced lawyer will advise you on issues that could arise later when the divorce process is over. In some cases, one party may fail to pay for utilities or prevent the other partner from seeing the children. A well-drafted agreement will not only solve the current issues but also other issues that may arise in the future.
Keep in mind the judge makes his decision based on the law and rules of court. If you fail to represent yourself properly, the judge may make a decision that is not in your favor. With the proper guidance of our Toronto divorce lawyers, the process will be much easier for you.