Divorce filings can be complex. Hiring an attorney to assist in the filing will allow them to highlight any areas that you might have missed or ensure that your divorce settlement agreement is fair and equitable.
An attorney can also help you sidestep potential pitfalls during the divorce process, such as signing off on an insufficiently beneficial settlement agreement.
1. You Have Children
Divorces can be challenging affairs, but when children are involved they become even more complex. Parents will likely disagree about custody and visitation arrangements; typically courts try to ensure both parents remain involved with their children’s lives; however this isn’t always possible so having an attorney protect your rights as a parent is incredibly valuable.
Divorces with children can be complicated because of issues surrounding child support payments. A divorce attorney can ensure you obtain an optimal arrangement regarding child support – often calculated according to an established formula – or help file a petition if your circumstances change and require changes to child support payments.
No matter if there are children involved or not, consulting a lawyer if there’s been domestic violence is always wise if your relationship involves physical abuse or emotional manipulation. Finding equitable agreements on issues like property division and alimony can be challenging without legal help protecting your legal rights; so speaking to one can review your situation and fight hard on your behalf to protect legal rights.
If both you and your spouse agree on all aspects of the divorce, hiring an attorney might not be necessary. Mediation could help expedite proceedings without going to trial, while limited scope lawyers could be used only to assist with specific tasks like filing documents or attending mediation sessions with you.
Even though the Internet provides a wealth of information about divorce, it may be hard to locate sources tailored specifically to your own case. Unfortunately, some sites provide incorrect or outdated advice, or do not account for your state’s laws which could create more issues down the road.
If you’re uncertain whether or not you need legal representation for your divorce proceedings, it is wise to contact a family law firm which can answer your queries. Legal aid offices or bar associations are great places for referrals as well. If an attorney is out of reach financially for you there are also free or reduced-cost alternatives such as pro bono legal aid programs available which offer pro bono or community legal aid services.
2. You Have Assets
Division of assets and debts is an integral aspect of divorce proceedings. If you possess significant assets like a house or car, working with an experienced divorce attorney to protect their value during this process is highly advised. Even if only small assets exist between you and your former partner, an experienced legal representative can help protect their rights and negotiate an equitable settlement that makes both sides satisfied with their outcomes.
Laws concerning property and debt division in divorce vary significantly by state, so speaking to your local divorce attorney about what applies in your region can provide invaluable insights. Furthermore, your legal representative can explain any nuances of these laws, such as their application to specific assets or debts.
One common error many make during their divorce is forgetting to divide debt properly. If you had joint credit card accounts with your former partner before the split took place, for instance, both of you remain equally liable for that debt despite your divorce decree being final. Creditors don’t care what decree was reached in your marriage; they simply want their money. Therefore it is essential that any joint accounts be closed out before divorce becomes official; closing them would also remove your name as joint accountholder from liability altogether.
Medical debt should also be resolved before your divorce becomes finalized, with courts treating different forms of medical debt in accordance to whether they were incurred as the result of an emergency, necessary procedure, or elective surgery. It is recommended to speak to your family doctor and identify which types of medical debt require repayment before seeking reimbursement from them.
Divorce can be an emotionally challenging and taxing process, but you can reduce its potential damage to your future by consulting an experienced divorce attorney such as Ksenia Rudyuk. She can fight on your behalf to secure assets you are due and protect your rights throughout proceedings. Contact her law office now for a consultation session and find out more about how she can assist in helping navigate this complex process of filing for divorce.
3. You Have Disputes
If you and your spouse can agree on all major aspects of a divorce (child custody, property division, alimony and child support) without legal intervention then no professional is needed to assist with the process. But if differences remain or specific issues become contentious then legal help will likely be required in order to successfully navigate it.
If your ex is becoming aggressive or is threatening physical harm or financial ruin, hiring a divorce lawyer might also be wise. By having someone fight on your behalf for your legal rights while providing expert legal advice during the proceedings, hiring one may save time, money and stress in the long run.
Divorce can be an intricate and overwhelming process, and without legal representation you could make costly errors which will significantly damage your case. Mistakes made without legal assistance often cost more time and money in terms of repairs once discovered, as will errors made without representation can require extensive time and money spent correcting them once discovered. Working together with both attorneys, an attorney will ensure all paperwork is filed accurately, necessary evidence collected, negotiation completed in a productive way and that resolutions that work for both parties (if required by court orders) are reached as quickly as possible.
Divorce attorneys provide another major benefit of hiring one: understanding the terms of any proposed settlements. Without legal advice, it can be easy to sign on without fully comprehending what you are agreeing to – once approved by a judge, changes are likely both costly and difficult.
If you are uncertain if hiring a divorce attorney is right for you, schedule a complimentary consultation at Vanden Heuvel & Dineen S.C. Our attorneys have years of experience and knowledge about divorce law to answer all of your queries about it – plus affordable financing solutions should that become necessary for you. Call now so we can arrange an appointment and have one by your side sooner rather than later!
4. You Have Legal Issues
If you and your spouse can’t agree on some or all aspects of a divorce, hiring an attorney might be in your best interests. This is particularly important if your case includes contentious matters like property division, custody arrangements or support arrangements that need to be decided upon.
Lawyers can assist with navigating complex legal issues and protecting your rights during the divorce proceedings, including reviewing proposed settlement agreements to make sure they’re in your best interests. Furthermore, attorneys can help prevent common mistakes during a divorce such as filing without proper documents or forgetting key pieces of information such as your financial statement (known as Statement of Net Worth) – errors which could result in costly snags later on in proceedings.
During a contentious divorce, both you and your spouse are likely to retain legal counsel for themselves. It is crucial that if they do hire their own attorney that you also retain one to fight for your interests in court and advocate on your behalf zealously; your NYC family law lawyer should seek to secure a positive resolution in your case.
Some lawyers will offer limited-scope representation at a reduced rate, making this cost-cutting solution ideal if your needs are less complex and full service representation isn’t necessary for a contested divorce case.
Divorce can be both emotionally and financially taxing. If you need guidance about whether or not to hire an attorney for your divorce proceedings, reach out to local law firms for more information; those that provide free initial consultations would likely provide this service as well.
If you cannot afford legal aid services, check with your local legal aid office to see if you qualify for assistance. Many offices provide services for low-income individuals to assist with various legal matters including divorces. Some organizations even provide attorneys for long term cases.
