Quick quiz. You are getting divorced in the state of Washington. You don’t have an attorney yet, but your spouse has already been working with one for several weeks. What do you do?
- Save some money and just trust whatever your spouse’s attorney says, assuming he will resolve everything fairly.
- Don’t hire your own attorney, but carefully read everything your spouse’s attorney sends over before signing. Wait for your day in court to explain everything.
- Call Divorce Lawyers for Men immediately at 877-866-7393.
The answer may seem easy. If you are in the middle of divorce, you know that making even easy decisions can feel challenging.
Going through a divorce is a difficult and challenging process. This is especially true if the divorce is a surprise suddenly sprung on you by your spouse. You are faced with many changes and decisions that have to be made. You may have to quickly move to a new home. Instead of seeing your children everyday, you now have to work out a schedule and share them with your spouse. Everything about your daily routine changes overnight.
With so many changes and decisions taking your mental energies, it may seem easy just to go along with whatever your spouse wants. Your spouse’s attorney has already done all the work and all you have to do is sign on the dotted line. Unfortunately, taking the course of least resistance during a divorce will only lead to negative results down the road.
Your Spouse’s Attorney Doesn’t Represent You
This may seem like an obvious statement, but it is an important point to keep front and center. Your spouse’s lawyer only represents your soon to be ex. He or she is not, and cannot, looking out for your needs or even trying to be fair. Her attorney only has one object; to aggressively advocate for your spouse on every issue. It should be no surprise then when your spouse presents you with documents to sign, the terms of your divorce are going to heavily favor your ex.
Can’t I Just Represent Myself?
Yes, you can, but divorce is a complex process. Property that was once jointly owned by both spouses must now be divided. Serious financial choices have to be made. The court must determine difficult issues such as child custody, child support, and spousal support. if you have not been here before, these are strange waters with new rules and procedures.
Divorce attorneys are experienced professionals who understand how to present information to the court and properly argue points in contention. If your spouse wants temporary spousal support, your spouse’s attorney can file a motion with the court for a temporary order. If you and your spouse disagree about how many days of the week the children will stay with you, your spouse’s attorney can file a motion to change the visitation schedule.
If you represent yourself, each time your spouse’s attorney files a motion you will need to answer it in writing. You will need to understand the law and how it applies to the specific circumstances of your case. If there are several points of disagreement, you will be faced with a lot of legal motions you will need to read, understand, and reply to on a deadline. And then you have to go to Court and explain your side to the Judge.
Your Lawyer Represents Only You
If you have your own divorce attorney, you have an advocate for your rights. Your attorney will fight for what is best for you, not what is best for your wife. Your attorney will objectively negotiate with the other attorney. If negotiation fails, your attorney will go to court with you, and present your case to the judge. A qualified divorce attorney will draw upon a deep knowledge and understanding of divorce law to help you.
With your own attorney, you don’t have to just sign whatever papers your spouse gives you. You also don’t have to just give into your spouse’s demands. Where there are disagreements, your attorney will be your advocate and work hard to achieve the best possible results for you in your divorce.
When facing divorce it may seem easy to just sign the papers and make it all go away. It is vital to remember that during your divorce you are building your life after divorce. Your divorce will determine how much time you will spend with your children, how much child support will be paid, and how the property is divided. Don’t let your spouse make all the decisions. Choose your own attorney and make your own choices.
Yes you can represent yourself, but in the legal profession we have a saying: “a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client”. If lawyers are too close to their own divorce to handle their own case, maybe you should think about hiring an objective lawyer to protect you.
Going through a divorce?
Divorce Lawyers For Men™ attorneys people going through divorce. Talk with a legal professional who will be happy to explain the divorce process to you. Call us today at (877) 866-7393 to speak with an attorney who understands your situation and can offer real help.
If you would like more information on the divorce process, or to take the best divorce resources with you in print, please check out our free divorce guide for men or contact our office to meet with an attorney about your particular circumstances.
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