3 Reasons You Should Always Use A Divorce Attorney When Separating
In many areas couples are legally allowed to work out the details of a divorce between themselves and simply file the paperwork with the courts, and their marriage is dissolved. However, trying to handle your divorce on your own can be very shortsighted. Consider three surprising reasons why it's good to always use a divorce attorney when separating and dissolving a marriage.
1. Support arrangements need to cover every possible future scenario
A couple may agree that the husband will continue to financially support the wife for a certain amount of time after a divorce, but what if he loses his job or has a financial setback during that time? What if the wife remarries, starts making more money than the husband does, or decides to move out of state?
Couples often overlook details and scenarios like these when creating their own divorce decrees, and this can be a costly mistake. A divorce attorney will know how to word support agreements so that they can be adjusted as financial situations change, and both parties are protected while being treated fairly.
2. Divorce laws may not work as you assume
It's a common misconception between couples that a wife is entitled to a certain amount of her husband's paycheck or that she always gets the family home in a divorce, or that she gets no support if she has a job, and so on. In truth, divorce laws are not always structured the way couples assume and laws change over time.
A couple who write up their own agreement simply because they assume that's how divorce laws work can be making a costly mistake. It's better to at least consult with a divorce attorney about your plans so he or she can advise you on how the laws protect both parties and what both could expect during a divorce hearing.
3. Couples often overlook important details about support and custody
Divorce attorneys (such as those from Backus Law Group) are familiar with all the details that arise during a divorce and can ensure they're addressed in any settlement or agreement. As an example, the husband may continue to pay for a child's medical insurance, but what about medical costs not covered by that insurance? If one spouse has primary custody of the children, what happens if they want to move far away? Will they be restricted from doing this, and if not, how will visitation be managed? Writing all these details into your divorce decree will ensure the separation is as easy as possible on both parties and will avoid more court appearances down the road.