Deciding when it is appropriate to get a lawyer can be difficult, especially when it is for something as personal as getting a divorce. Now, in a perfect world, you and your soon-to-be ex would be able to get through proceedings own your own without disagreement. Unfortunately, however, this can rarely be the case given how unstable your life can be when going through a divorce. When things get heated and messy, it's probably time to hire a lawyer, especially if you have children or lots of assets being fought over. Here are some reasons why hiring a lawyer might be your best bet.
You Don't Feel Safe
Should your spouse become hostile toward you during a divorce, you most likely will end up fearing some sort of violence befalling you or your children. The best thing you can do to defend yourself in this scenario would be to hire an attorney, who will be able to secure a temporary (or permanent, if need be) restraining order against your spouse. This will allow you to take you and your children away from a hostile spouse in between court dates, which can buy you some much needed peace of mind.
Getting a restraining order is paramount if children are involved as well, as your spouse might claim you're trying to kidnap the children, which can be devastating during the appeal process. In addition, a lawyer will be able to fight for you receive funds out of any joint account you and your spouse might have in order to put a safe distance between you and them.
You Feel You Can't Handle Proceedings
In the legal system, your feelings can often work against you, which can negatively impact the outcome of your divorce. By hiring a lawyer as an emotionally neutral third party, you can safeguard yourself against accusations of emotional instability that your partner might make against you. This often gives you a better chance at gaining custody of your child or certain assets that you shared.
All-in-all, you'll be able to weather the storm a bit better, especially in the event that your spouse makes up rumors about you to the court which might drive you to emotional outburst in the courtroom, which can sabotage your chances of getting a fair settlement.
Your Spouse Has Lawyered Up
If your spouse has retained an attorney to fight for them, it would be foolish for you not to do the same. Lawyers know how to better play the system to get favorable results in a court appeal, which can rob you of your much deserved assets and even cost you custody of your children should you be undefended.
So, if any of the above apply to you, hiring a divorce attorney is definitely in your best interest. You might even be able to find an attorney that will work your case for free, should the situation be dire enough.
Contact a legal office like Hart Law Offices, PC to learn more.
Share24 September 2015
When it comes to your personal rights, how much do you really understand the law. About ten years ago, I realized that I didn't really understand my rights when I was accused of something that I knew I didn't do. I could tell that I needed to work with a lawyer who had a better understanding of what I was up against, so I contacted a local team that could help. They were really incredible to work with, and I was impressed with how well they were able to fight the charges. This blog is here for anyone struggling with legal drama.