subject: Representing Yourself Is Tough Even In Uncontested Divorce Cases [print this page] With many divorce lawyers charging high hourly rates and requesting huge retainers up front, it should surprise no one that many people filing for divorce try to represent themselves. After all, if you can handle your own case and potentially save thousands of dollars in legal fees, why wouldnt you?
But theres an old saying that you may have heard: He who represents himself has a fool for a client.
Why is that the case?
Well, think about this. Lawyers have to go through years of school before theyre allowed to practice law. The average divorce lawyer that youd hire would be someone who has been handling divorce cases on a daily basis for many, many years.
Now, how can someone who has no legal training and no courtroom experience expect to handle a case with the same level of skill as an experienced, licensed divorce attorney? Its just not realistic to think that you wont make costly mistakes when trying to take on your own case. The consequences of these mistakes could range from mild to very severe. A mistake in handling your divorce case could literally cost you for years to come.
But what about if your case is an uncontested divorce in Florida? These cases are pretty straightforward, right?
Not so fast. While you dont have the lengthy courtroom battles that drag on for months in an uncontested divorce, that doesnt mean that its simple enough for anyone to handle on their own.
An uncontested divorce can be challenging in many ways:
Preparing the required paperwork - The first step to getting an uncontested divorce in Florida is to prepare the various forms required for filing for divorce in court. There are many different forms that need to be filled out and filed, and any mistakes you might make when preparing these forms could cause your case to be rejected by the court clerk. That means youll have to basically start back over from scratch, costing you time and money.
Negotiating fair agreements with your spouse - In uncontested divorce cases, its up to the two divorcing parties to work out the details of things like property division, debt division, child support, and alimony. These are arrangements that youll have to deal with for years to comemaybe even for the rest of your life. Its absolutely critical that you ensure the arrangements are fair. Thats where having qualified legal counsel by your side can be helpful.
Working with the courts to move your case forward - Think that you can just file your papers and the courts will be proactive in making sure your divorce gets handled in a timely manner? Think again! If youre going it alone, youll have to be proactive in working with the courts to schedule dates and keep your case moving forward. Needless to say, this can be a hassle.
Spending the time and energy to handle the various details of your case - The fact is that there are so many different things that have to be managed in your divorce case. Juggling all of these balls can take a lot of time and effort. You may soon find that youre in over your head.
Before you decide to handle your uncontested divorce in Florida all by yourself, consider the risks carefully.
