By Onyx Watson
If you and your spouse are thinking of filing a divorce to legally call off your marriage, you must be thinking of whether or not you should hire a Salt Lake City divorce attorney. Divorce is most often a financially and emotionally draining experience. But when you join hands with a divorce attorney, he can make the process smoother.
However, if you’re just at the initiating stage of a divorce process and you’re thinking of saving money without hiring a lawyer, you’re probably taking the wrong decision. Was your marriage for a very short duration? Are you both considering ending the marriage without any financial or legal battle? Don’t you have any children or assets? If such are your personal conditions, you may consider filing a divorce using online tools.
But if there are assets, children and alimony involved, hiring a divorce attorney is a must. Here’s why you should appoint one.
An attorney illustrates the basis on which you can file a divorce
Different states have set certain grounds for filing a divorce based on which the spouses can enjoy their rights to petition for a divorce to call their marriage quits. Few grounds for divorce are based on faults like cruel behavior, adultery, incarceration, or abuse. All states in the United States of America identify no-fault grounds for filing a divorce. But there are a few states where you the spouses have to live in separation for a certain period of time before they finally dissolve their marriage.
A divorce attorney will explain whether or not there are benefits in filing a petition to the court for dissolution of marriage based on fault grounds. He will also handle all the paperwork and legal documents required in completing the process of divorce.
An attorney helps you reach an agreement
Keeping in mind the fact that you and your spouse have decided to file a divorce, you probably won’t be eager to meet each other in person, even when it is required. During such a situation, it can become a challenge to reach an agreement that satisfies both of you. A Salt Lake City divorce attorney can assist you in reaching an agreement sooner than you could ever be able to do on your own. Your attorney can also support you in case your spouse’s attorney is forcing you to come to an agreement that you’re unsure of.
An attorney better understands your rights
You, being a layman, won’t be aware of all the rights that you’re entitled to under the state you reside in. A highly skilled divorce attorney can educate you on your divorce rights and tell you about your fair share. When your spouse also works with an attorney, he may try to force you into reaching an unfair deal. In such cases, a lawyer can evaluate your situation and help you reach a mutual agreement.
An attorney contests for your parental rights
Do you and your spouse have children together? If yes, you must be already aware that obtaining child custody is one of the biggest and most complicated parts of a divorce process. When you’re guided by a divorce lawyer, you can fight for your parental rights and also make sure that your relationship with your children doesn’t get hampered in the process.
So, if you decide to move through the complex process of a divorce without the help of a lawyer, you may have to face worse financial and emotional consequences. Not appointing a lawyer for a divorce can turn the divorce into a long-drawn process. On the contrary, with skillful legal representation, you can facilitate the process of divorce and come up with a worthy resolution.
