Many people want to keep lawyers out of their divorce for lots of reasons – money, time, or fear that the lawyers will turn an uncontested divorce into a fight. The problem with the do-it-yourself (DIY) approach is that you don’t know what you don’t know.
What is an uncontested divorce?
An uncontested divorce, also known as an amicable divorce, is where both parties agree to end their marriage and how to settle without the need for someone else to help them decide a particular issue.
Why you need an attorney for your uncontested divorce
Recently, a new client came in for a consult for an amicable divorce. She asked me to review the separation agreement her and her spouse had signed a year ago, which she had prepared using an example she found online. It was one of the better separation agreements I have seen prepared by a client. The problem, however, was that the agreement was silent as to the division of their retirement assets. When I asked her about this she said it was because she was afraid that her spouse would not sign it otherwise. The agreement also waived all other claims that were not included within the separation agreement. This one mistake cost the client more than $75,000.00 in retirement assets she would have otherwise been entitled to.
Had this client consulted with an attorney prior to signing her separation agreement, she may have chosen to address this issue or decided it was not worth the possible fight because another issue was more important to her. While it will cost you some money to obtain the advice of an experienced family law attorney, it may be more expensive in the long run if you don’t.
Additionally, an attorney should be focused on ensuring you are informed of your rights and options, not bullying you into taking a particular position or encouraging you to fight it out in court, unless this is what you want to do. If this is your experience in consulting with an experienced family law attorney, I urge you to get a second opinion.
Contact Our Howard County Divorce Attorneys for Assistance with your Uncontested Divorce.
No one wants to have a difficult divorce. Let our experienced divorce attorneys help you keep the drama out of your divorce and give you peace of mind during this difficult time. At Jacobson Family Law, we focus on streamlining divorce through alternative dispute resolutions to make your uncontested divorce as simple as possible. For more information about these services and how we can help with your uncontested divorce, contact us by calling us at 443-741-1147 or scheduling a consultation today.
