If your car won’t run, you take it to a mechanic. If you are sick, you go to the doctor. Likewise, if you need to get divorced, you should consult an experienced divorce attorney who can guide you through your divorce proceedings and give you the legal advice and advocacy that you need. There are a number of compelling and important reasons that you should be represented by a lawyer in divorce court.
First, if you represent yourself in your divorce case, you may not get all to which you are entitled, or you may leave something out of your divorce. If you are unaware of all issues that need to be addressed in a divorce, you may very well miss something. For instance, perhaps you forget about an old retirement plan from your husband’s previous employer. Once your divorce is final, your ex-husband will own that retirement plan free and clear from any claims from you, when you might have been entitled to a portion of the plan’s value. Likewise, you may settle for an amount of child support that your spouse believes is appropriate, but it may not be the full amount to which you are entitled.
Next, you are unlikely to reach a settlement of your divorce with your spouse if you are unrepresented by an attorney. As a result, you are leaving your future – and the future of your children – completely up to a judge. You may end up with a result that you never contemplated and that you did not want. If you hire an attorney, he or she is likely to be able to help you negotiate an outcome that you can live with, thus putting the divorce on your terms, rather than having your future decided by a judge who has never met you.
At Pacific Northwest Family Law, we know how stressful, emotional, and complex divorce and family law proceedings can be. As this post illustrates, you need the advice and guidance of an attorney with a background in divorce law who can guide you throughout your case. Contact our office today, schedule a meeting with an experienced Washington divorce attorney at Pacific Northwest Family Law, and learn how we can help you with your divorce or family law case.
