19 Mar When should you hire a divorce attorney?

In today’s world, divorces are unfortunately a ubiquitous part of life. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC–the United States, in 2021, (excluding a few states), saw somewhere around 6 marriages per 1,000 people, and 2.5 divorces per 1,000 people. That’s a divorce roughly for every 2.4 marriages. Not to mention, some states saw even higher divorce rates in 2021–such as Tennessee, which saw a divorce rate of 3.3 per 1,000 people.

The truth is, divorce happens–and divorce can be a devastating and exhausting ordeal. Even in cases where you might feel that this is your best next step forward, navigating a divorce can be a tough and draining process. What’s more, divorce can present a range of related issues, such as spousal support, dividing up assets, child support, child custody, and much more.

Aside from the sometimes contentious nature of divorce, this can be a highly stressful time of adjustment and learning. What’s more, divorce can be a highly complex legal process–one that can be difficult to understand. As such, it is not uncommon for individuals going through a divorce to seek out legal help from divorce attorneys or family attorneys. Many people going through, or about to go through a divorce might be asking themselves:

“Do I need a lawyer for this?”

If you’re asking yourself that, read on! Let’s explore.

Should you hire a divorce lawyer?

Whether to hire a divorce attorney is a complex question. The truth is, each person’s situation might look different. Whether you ultimately decide to seek legal counsel and representation, is at the end of the day, up to you. That being said, there are some good reasons why one might hire a divorce attorney if they’re facing divorce or seeking a divorce.

Some of these reasons are simple – divorce can be complicated. A divorce lawyer, one who specializes in these types of legal situations, will likely be able to help you understand it better. What’s more, by hiring a divorce attorney, you’ll have an ally on your side who’s prepared to represent you and seek your best interests in court. As divorces can sometimes become messy, some people going through divorce might feel as if they can’t afford not to hire a lawyer.

Well, what about when to hire one? Do I need a divorce lawyer right away?

Even if you’re sure you want to hire a divorce lawyer at some point, you might be wondering when the right time to hire a lawyer is. Once again, this decision ultimately falls to you. But–if you’re already involved in a divorce or an imminent divorce, you might find that the legal process of divorce can be not only confusing, but one which can have lasting impacts on your life.

If you’re unsure how decisions that you make at this point might play out down the road, talking with a lawyer might help you better understand your rights, what the law says, and how your decisions now might affect you later.

And, if you’re considering filing for divorce, you might find that it’s helpful to discuss your options, rights, and desired outcomes with an experienced attorney who can help you go about filing in the best way possible. If you want to better understand how divorce works, or what your options are before you proceed, you might find it helpful to speak with an experienced family or divorce lawyer. Again, when you hire a divorce attorney is up to you just as much as whether to hire one at all is.

What might a divorce lawyer help you with?

We’ve talked a lot about divorce, and some situations where one might be interested in hiring a divorce lawyer. So, what exactly do divorce lawyers do for their clients? What can a divorce lawyer help you with? Let’s explore:

Understanding the law and legal counsel

An experienced divorce attorney will be able to not only represent you in court but help you understand the law. Divorce law can be considered pretty complicated. If you’re not exactly sure what laws might affect you in your divorce, what your rights are, and how legal decisions you’re making now might affect your life, you may be interested in seeking out help understanding the legal system that affects you. An experienced divorce attorney will be able to offer you advice, or counsel, based on their knowledge of both your case, your desired outcomes, and state laws that affect you.

Representation

An experienced divorce attorney will be able to represent you in court. They can work to help you try to achieve the best possible outcomes in court, and look out for your best interests as you navigate this highly complex process. They can advocate for you, and help you present yourself well to the courts.

Other legal issues stemming from divorce

One of the reasons why divorces can be so stressful to everyone involved is that divorces can come along with a slew of other challenges and legal issues. Spouses must divide assets, find an agreement on spousal support if applicable, and sometimes might need to take additional steps–such as coming to an agreement on child support or child custody, and in some cases maybe even things such as protective orders. Unfortunately, divorce is sometimes only the start of a lengthy, arduous process.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, whether you choose to hire or consult with an experienced divorce attorney as you navigate a potential divorce is up to you. Still, there are some tangible potential benefits to seeking legal counsel and representation as you go into this process, should you choose to speak with or hire an attorney.

Divorce often becomes complicated by shared assets, children, marital disputes, and much more. And, divorce often necessitates conversations about who will care for the kids, who will get what assets, and whether or not spousal support is needed.

Whether you need help with a divorce, or you’re seeking legal counsel for other family law matters, be sure to reach out here, or call us at (615) 645-2800.