3 Situations Where You Should Hire A Divorce Attorney
If you are going through a divorce, you might be wondering if is it worth hiring an attorney. It is no secret that a divorce can be expensive and some people might worry that hiring an attorney will only increase the costs. If you are in this situation, it is important that you understand when you need to hire an attorney and when you can handle it on your own. Here are a couple situations where you should always hire an attorney.
1. The Divorce Is Hostile
If your divorce is hostile in any way, you need to hire an attorney. Don't assume that your spouse will do what is best for both of you. They are simply looking out for themselves. If you cannot agree on certain terms, don't give in without talking to an attorney first. Once you sign that contract, you are essentially agreeing to whatever they decide. It will be much harder to fight custody, division of assets and so forth after you have signed a contract. You will actually spend more money on getting everything resolved and cleaning up that mess than you would to just get it right the first time.
2. There Has Been Infidelity or Abuse
Another reason to hire an attorney is if there has been infidelity or abuse in the marriage. These actions merit fault of one of the spouses. When there is fault in the marriage, it means that there are extra privileges given to the person who has been wronged or victimized. Thus, you shouldn't sign any contracts until you have talked to an attorney. You may be entitled to more than you think and you may need to press charges against the individual, such as in the case of abuse. This shouldn't be done without a lawyer.
3. Your Spouse Has Hired An Attorney
Lastly, if your spouse has hired a divorce attorney, you need to hire an attorney. It is dangerous to think that one attorney will protect both of your interests. The attorney only has a duty to the individual that hired them. This means that, if you go without representation, you can easily be taken for everything you have. This is why you need to get an attorney to protect you if your spouse has an attorney.
Overall, it is better to hire an attorney when going through a divorce. This will be the best way to be sure that the agreement is as it should be and that you are protected.
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