Do You Need an Uncontested Divorce Lawyer?
About 39 percent of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce. Although this rate is down from about 50 percent recorded a couple of years ago, the reality is divorce is still prevalent.
If you’re getting divorced, your divorce will either be contested or uncontested. A good number of couples go for an uncontested divorce, which means the partners are mutually agreeing to get the divorce. They have an agreement on key issues like child support, property division, and spousal support.
When this is the case, do you still need an uncontested divorce lawyer? Let’s dig further into this issue.
The Case Against Hiring an Uncontested Divorce Lawyer
Hiring a divorce lawyer is usually the first thing that comes to mind when the prospect of divorce comes up. This is because we have been conditioned to think that divorce is a nasty process where one spouse is out to get the other. Granted, this often happens in a contested divorce.
You want to protect your assets and interests. Maybe you want to get more than you think your partner is willing to give.
But then, lawyers cost money. Especially if you’re the one initiating the divorce, you might be compelled to take care of the legal costs of the person you’re divorcing. Legal costs can run into tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
So, when it happens that you’re pursuing an uncontested divorce where you and your partner have agreed on virtually everything, you might not need to hire a lawyer. You can save a lot of money on legal costs.
However, it’s not that simple…
The Case for Hiring an Uncontested Divorce Lawyer
While an uncontested divorced might sound like the best possible scenario for divorcing couples, the truth is there’s always more than meets the eye.
Divorce, whether contested or not, is an emotionally challenging process. You’re grieving the death of a marriage and as such, you might not be in the right headspace to make sound decisions on matters such as property division and alimony.
It’s understandable that you might want to finalize the divorce as quickly as possible and move on, but you still want to get a fair deal. How do you know that your spouse isn’t taking advantage of you?
What if there’s information that you don’t know about your partner? Perhaps they have hidden assets that they’ve conveniently left out in the agreements you’re making.
An uncontested divorce attorney will help you ensure you’re making the right decisions. They can negotiate agreements on your behalf, ensuring you aren’t getting raw deals.
Another reason to hire an uncontested divorce lawyer is your partner may already have retained the services of one. You don’t want to head to the negotiation table without a lawyer of your own.
It’s Prudent to Hire an Uncontested Divorce Lawyer
On the surface, hiring an uncontested divorce lawyer might sound like an indulgence. However, look deeper and you’ll see the need to hire one. Things aren’t always as they seem. Uncontested divorces are no different.
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