You do not need to get a lawyer to file for a divorce in Texas. However, here are reasons you should consider hiring a skilled divorce attorney.
8 Reasons You Should Hire an Divorce Attorney
1. You Have Minor Children
Children are the number one reason you should get representation. Ensuring your children’s best interests are kept in mind is paramount. Even if you decide on shared custody, it is important a lawyer handles the paperwork and keeps you and your children protected. Your attorney will also negotiate child support in line with Texas law.
2. Your Emotions Can Affect Your Judgment
Whether you’re happy or sad about the divorce, your feelings can cloud your decision-making, leading to poor choices. You may feel guilty about the breakup and want to give your spouse everything. Alternatively, you may be so angry that you refuse to think clearly about paying appropriate child support, feeling that it will teach your soon-to-be ex a lesson.
Even when you recognize that divorce is the best choice, you likely have overwhelming emotions that will impact your work, sleep, and other important parts of your life. Without an attorney to make things easier, this stress can drag out longer than necessary, making the whole process more devastating.
3. Your Lack of Legal Knowledge Can Hurt You for Years
Divorce laws change frequently, and the courts depend on working through cases quickly to handle the load. You could miss important deadlines and requirements if you are unfamiliar with the forms, laws, and procedures. Educating yourself on these matters can become a full-time job, adding to your stress at work and home.
If you aren’t clear on your rights, you could make mistakes regarding child custody or property division that affect you for years. Amending child support or other court orders requires you to return to court, and once a property is transferred, you may not have the right to get it back. Understanding all these complex concerns can be mind-boggling if you don’t have an attorney to explain and manage them for you.
4. Your Divorce Could Last Much Longer
Many factors can cause your divorce to take a long time to complete, keeping you from stepping into the next chapter of your life. Often, you are trying to handle paperwork and deadlines in the middle of working and moving to a new home. In other situations, the other spouse is making it difficult to negotiate the terms, dragging things out for months or years.
An experienced divorce attorney will recognize potential roadblocks and help you eliminate them so your divorce can move forward quickly. They understand your rights and entitlements and will help you craft child custody agreements that protect your children’s future. Ultimately, they are on your side and will fight for what you need and deserve under the law.
5. You May Need Protective Orders Due to Domestic Violence
If your spouse physically or emotionally abuses you or your children, you may need special protective orders during the divorce process. While you can file these requests on your own, having an attorney do this for you allows you to concentrate on keeping yourself and your children safe. Texas also allows emergency orders that can keep you from having to meet with your spouse while finalizing the divorce.
6. Expert Advice
While you can handle the divorce process on your own if you have the experience, it is recommended that you seek the services of a divorce lawyer. Without sufficient skill and knowledge, you might make mistakes, resulting in you getting less than you deserve. An experienced divorce lawyer will ensure you do everything right under the law, which is even more critical when your divorce is complex and involves children.
7. Reduce Stress
According to the Life Change Index Scale, divorce is the second most stressful life event you can face. Thoughts of what to do and how your life will change can fill every moment of your day, keeping you from focusing on your children or your job. When you put your case in the hands of an accomplished attorney, you don’t have to manage the paperwork or speak with the other spouse, substantially lowering your stress.
8. Your Spouse Has a Lawyer
Yes, you probably need your own lawyer if your spouse has already retained one. Generally, when one side is represented, and the other is not, the represented spouse does better in the divorce. Since a divorce lawyer can only represent one spouse in a divorce, please know that their lawyer is not on your side. Their lawyer may even have a duty to act to your detriment when permissible.
Why You Should Choose Terry & Roberts for Your Texas Divorce
Even if you have an amicable divorce, separating from your spouse is never easy. Although you might be hesitant to hire a Texas divorce attorney, please know that experienced, local divorce lawyers like those at Terry & Roberts know the law, especially as it pertains to your case.
Give yourself the strongest chance at a satisfactory outcome by working with a Brazoria County family law attorney from Terry & Roberts. Contact us today to see how we can help you.