Are divorce lawyers necessary? This question is currently being raised by the Texas Supreme Court as it discusses whether or not to provide fill-in-the-blank forms so that people can handle their divorce matters without a family law attorney.
Thirty-six states, including Washington, already offer self-help forms and information for family law matters. King County even provides a seminar for people who are working to develop a parenting plan without the help of an attorney.
Ways a Divorce Attorney Can Help with Your Case
While many people have been successful at handling their own divorce or custody matter by utilizing the court information and forms, it is often beneficial to hire a family law attorney.
- It often helps to have someone involved in your family law matter that does not have the emotional attachment to the situation. A family law attorney can present options to you in an objective and practical matter.
- Attorneys are knowledgeable about the legal rules and statutes that are applicable to your family law case. It is important to have someone on your side who can wade through all of the logistics and ensure that all procedures involved in family law matters are completed accurately. Making mistakes can be very costly.
- A divorce attorney can assist you in negotiating and making decisions regarding the division of your assets.
- Hiring a divorce attorney in custody matters is often beneficial because he or she has a strong understanding of the formulas for appropriately determining child custody payments and can assist you in laying out a realistic parenting plan.
- In hearings or trial, it is beneficial to have an attorney who can represent you in court. A family law attorney is familiar with the court setting and will be ready to advocate for you before the judge or commissioner.
- Although directions and forms are available through the Washington State courts, the court websites state that court clerks cannot help a person fill out legal forms, set a hearing date, or give legal advice. These questions must be directed to an attorney or a court facilitator.
If you are ready to speak with a family law attorney about your divorce or custody matter, we encourage you to contact the Law Offices of Molly B. Kenny for a private consultation.
