A lot of people say that it is easy to file a divorce on your own. But some people also say that it is better to let a divorce lawyer file a divorce for you. So, which option to choose, whether to save money by filing the divorce on your own or spend money to hire a divorce lawyer? The following are 6 questions to ask yourself to determine whether you need to hire a divorce lawyer.
Do You Have the Budget to Hire a Lawyer?
First of all, you must ask yourself whether you have money to hire an Amarillo divorce lawyer. The attorney charges about $200 – $400 per hour. Some also require you to put a retainer amount of around $5,000. It is better to file the divorce yourself if you have no money and cannot find a resource to finance the legal fees. Sometimes, the other party will be accountable for the other’s legal fees as a result of a court order. Legal fees are not tax-deductible unless the lawyer collects some fee from your child support.
Do You Understand about the Divorce Laws?
Secondly, you must understand the divorce laws comprehensively. If you don’t understand the laws, you should find another person who is experienced in filing divorce lawsuit to help you. If not, it is best to hire a divorce lawyer to help you file the case. The divorce lawyer can help you to prepare the formal papers for submission to the court. The lawyer can also help you to respond to the petition of your ex-spouse.
Are You Able to Communicate with Your Ex-Spouse?
Filing the divorce yourself is a feasible option if you have no problem with discussing what you want from the divorce with your husband. However, if your husband object and is acting aggressively towards you, you should resort to seeking the help of a divorce lawyer. This is because the divorce lawyer can act as a mediator and intercede with your ex-spouse or his attorney about your demands. He can help you to negotiate for a settlement about the marital estate.
Do You Have Questions About Divorce Filing?
You are new about divorce and you may be ignorant about how to get the most from your spouse. If you have a lawyer, you can ask him these questions in your head and you will realize that you can get more from your spouse. The lawyer can help you to determine the spousal support your ex is supposed to pay you. He can also determine if you are entitled to own a portion of your spouse’s business. For a marriage that lasts for more than 10 years, you may also be entitled to a portion of the pension of your spouse.
Do You and Your Spouse Have Debt?
You and your spouse have owed some money in debt and you are wondering how it will affect you after divorce. If you seek help from a lawyer, he can determine whether the other spouse is entitled to be responsible for a portion of the debt. This can prevent an unfair division of the debt.
Do You and Your Spouse Have Problem about Property Division?
You can seek the advice of a divorce attorney if you and your spouse are having a problem with property division. The divorce lawyer can explain how property is divided in the divorce. He can offer guidance on how the property acquired before marriage and after marriage should be divided during a divorce. He can help you to determine which of your marital property community or non-community property is. The lawyer can also uncover assets that your spouse is trying to hide from you so that the right amount of assets is allocated to you.