Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Divorce
There is No Substitute for an Experienced Custody Divorce Attorney
It may seem like the least expensive and fastest alternative to hiring attorneys: go online or get some forms from a paralegal service and do your divorce yourself. So…is there a reason to spend money on a lawyer? Yes, there is!
We have seen the dangers of do it yourself firsthand. Time and time again, we have been hired to fix the errors that were made by well-meaning people trying to save money or trying to get through their divorce quicker. Unfortunately, fixing these errors ends up costing these clients much, much more in time and money. It is far better to do it correctly from the start than to later try to clean up a useless or unenforceable divorce judgment.
Divorce Court is a Powerful Legal Institution
Divorces must be handled carefully in order to ensure that the parties involved actually get what they think they are getting: a fair and permanent solution. Unfortunately, simple errors during a do-it-yourself divorce can cause serious problems. We often see errors such as the following:
• Placing a check mark in the wrong box on a vitally important court form.
• Failing to file a legal document or to make an objection in a timely manner resulting in the person losing a particular right forever.
• Failing to file a required document, but believing the divorce is final without actually ending the marriage.
• Neglecting to address important issues that are vital to you or your children like; life insurance, taxes, security on debts, transfers of title, etc.
• Even something as small as using a poorly-chosen word can end up causing damage that is difficult to repair.
Your do-it-yourself custody and divorce work will be held to the same standards as that of experienced attorneys.
The courts in Oregon are mandated to hold pro se litigants – individuals handling their cases on their own – to the same standards as attorneys. You will be required to know the law, whether or not you actually do. Once the judgment is entered, the case is over. You may not get another chance to fix the problem. If you’re working relationship with your spouse is strong enough that you would consider a do-it-yourself divorce, you may be surprised at how economical it is to work with an experienced attorney who is dedicated to working out a settlement.