Recognizing the Need For A Divorce
Do You Need A Divorce Attorney?
Jackson Robinson
Splitting up is rarely a straight-forward thing. There's always a chance that someone will say or do something that will alter the situation from a straightforward signing of papers to a court battle that drags on for longer than it should.
One of the things that individual spouses have to battle with is the decision to bring an attorney into the mix. Some people may consider the act of hiring a divorce attorney an arms race, and things can quickly go south. How can you know if it's a good time to get an attorney, like those at Hugh O. Allen Law Offices?
How Well Is the Mediation Going?
It's natural for most people to consider mediation when splitting up rather than going to court. Mediation is a lot cheaper, and it gives the divorcing couple an amicable end to their marriage. This is a good thing when the couple has to share custody of children and other responsibilities that can't be separated, such as a business partnership.
If the mediation efforts are not going well, you should consider getting an attorney in preparation for what may come. If the two of you are finding it difficult to agree on anything, it's better to be prepared.
What Caused the Break-Up?
Couples who are splitting up because they've decided their relationship has run its natural course will not handle things in the same way as a couple breaking up because someone cheated. Where one partner feels betrayed, breaking up is often not just about getting away from the other person. They will possibly seek to find ways of causing some sort of pain.
Where the agenda is not simply to break up, you should probably hire a lawyer. It's quite likely that the other spouse will try to get a decision that greatly disadvantages the other.
How Complicated Is the Asset Situation?
Many of the challenges that are brought on when splitting up are brought by the presence of significant assets to be divided. Many people have what can be described as complicated asset ownership situations.
Drawing the line between what's considered marital property and what's considered personal property can be very difficult. A single deposit can alter the decision on whether a bank account belongs to you or your spouse.
If you're in a situation where it's difficult to determine what's yours and what's owned jointly with your spouse, you should hire an attorney. There are likely to be disputed claims of ownership by both parties.
Share
My husband and I had a great marriage for about ten years--that is, until he started cheating on me. I found out about it from a friend, and once I started peeling off the layers of my husband's lies, I realized that we hardly had anything to salvage in the first place. I decided that it would be best to get divorced, but I knew that it would be painful and difficult. This blog is for anyone out there who needs to gather the strength to get divorced. Check out these posts to learn more about the process and how the right lawyer can help.