Divorce Question: Should I Do It Myself?

Divorce is hard and emotional. It will impact you and your family for years to come, especially if you have children. Decisions must be made about the division of assets and debts, child custody and visitation, child support, dividing real and personal property, and many others.

Just as you would hire a realtor to help you buy a home, an accountant to help you file your taxes, or a contractor to help you with home repairs, you should hire an attorney to help you with your divorce. There are ways to file for divorce “pro se” or on your own, without an attorney. We discourage a “do-it-yourself” divorce, as there are many details and issues that can be overlooked without the experience and knowledge of a licensed Georgia attorney. We are often retained to “fix” an agreement where the person represented themselves. In some instances, the agreement cannot be fixed and the person is simply stuck with the Court’s order. In most other instances, the “fix” ends up costing more than if the person had used an attorney in the original case.

Even if your divorce is uncontested, meaning you and your spouse are in agreement on all issues related to your divorce, you still want the help of an experienced Georgia attorney. There may be small issues you have not thought of, such as tax dependency issues or real property tax liability. Further, even though your case may be uncontested, it still must be filed in the appropriate court and be submitted to a Judge for final approval. Filing in the wrong court can get your case thrown out before it even gets to a Judge. Failing to present your case accurately to the Judge can result in needless delays and expenses that could have been avoided with the help of an experienced attorney.

In many instances, parties are really close to a full agreement but think they can’t file an uncontested divorce because of those last remaining disagreements. Sometimes, all it takes is the assistance of an attorney to help the parties reach that full agreement. An attorney can assist with negotiations, keep emotions from boiling over, and work towards the end result. You want a divorce agreement that works for both parties and is in the best interest of the children (if there are any involved). An agreement reached without court involvement usually works better for all involved, and is better at supporting long-term co-parenting arrangements. An attorney can help you achieve an agreement by maintaining focus on your long-term goals and helping you through this difficult process.

Don’t attempt to “go it alone.” We help our clients avoid costly missteps in a divorce. Call us to start solving your legal problems.

Spooner & Associates

Spooner and Associates, P.C., based in Suwanee, GA, is a firm of skilled litigators who are aggressive in the courtroom. However, when it is in our client’s best interests, we can handle cases through negotiation or methods of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation. Our experienced Gwinnett County attorneys help people in North Metro Atlanta solve their legal problems. In all of our cases, we determinedly represent our clients to get them results. Whether we are resolving a custody issue or a marital property issue related to a divorce, our lawyers are dedicated to the needs of each client.