Marriage on the Rocks? 4 Reasons You Need Legal Representation

Posted on: 30 January 2017

If you're about to file for divorce, you might be thinking you can take care of the process without an attorney. Unfortunately, filing for divorce without legal representation could come back to haunt you later. This is particularly true if your spouse has hired an attorney. Your spouse's attorney will be doing everything they can to get the best deal for their client, which means you'll be left out in the cold at every turn. Don't take chances with your divorce. Here are just four of the reasons why you need an attorney to handle your divorce.

Asset and Debt Division

If you're just thinking about finalizing your divorce, you're not looking at the bigger picture – your assets and debts. If you're leaving a long-standing marriage, you've probably amassed a considerable number of assets and debts. Both of those will need to be divided before the divorce can be settled. Without an attorney to protect your interest, you could leave the marriage with an unfair division – where you take the bulk of the debt and receive the smallest number of assets. Your attorney will work to ensure that the division of property is fair.

Custody Issues

If you have children and custody arrangements will need to be made, you owe it to yourself — and your children — to hire an attorney. Custody issues can be difficult to arrange, especially when both parents want primary custody rights. Having an attorney will help ensure that the needs of your children are taken into consideration throughout the process.

Spousal Support

If you're going to be seeking spousal support, you're going to need an attorney by your side. In most cases, spousal support is not a permanent arrangement. Some states will not order spousal support if the marriage wasn't long-lasting – meaning it only lasted a few years. In the state of California, you may be granted spousal support for an extended period of time if your marriage lasted longer than 10 years. To ensure you receive the support you're entitled to, you should seek legal representation as soon as possible.

Domestic Violence

If your marriage was marked by domestic violence, you need legal representation. This is particularly true if you fear for your safety once you file for divorce. Not only will an attorney help you with the divorce process, they can also help you obtain protection orders for yourself, and any children you might have.

If you're in the process of a divorce, don't go it alone. Speak to a divorce attorney in your area. 

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