Provided that you and your spouse are filing a “no-fault” divorce – meaning you agree that no one person is at fault and you’ve come to an agreement on financial issues, custody issues, and the other terms of a divorce – it IS possible for the two of you to file for divorce without having to hire an attorney…
And in most cases, this “do-it-yourself” process is faster, simpler, and much less expensive than it would be if you went the traditional route and each hired attorneys that would charge you by the hour to mitigate your issues.
You CAN get a divorce for a few hundred dollars!
Take one look at legal divorce papers, and you’ll see a lot of legal mumbo jumbo and hard-to-decipher jargon. But don’t worry!
Consider hiring a paralegal. Paralegals are individuals who assist lawyers in the delivery of legal services, and hiring one of them to help you fill out and organize the paperwork is MUCH less expensive then hiring a lawyer.
Plus, the actual cost of filing the legal paperwork is minimal.
When choosing a paralegal make sure they are experienced!
The last thing you want to do is hire a paralegal who is fresh out of school with little or no experience.
Don’t be afraid to do your due diligence and ask them what their background is. Look for someone who has had at least two to three years of experience in the legal profession – and note that experience means that they’ve been involved with complex cases, not just straightforward everyday cases.
If you prefer, you can even fill out the forms yourself.
If you’re considering filling out your own divorce forms, just be aware that this is NOT recommended.
Chances are you could end up “losing” or conceding something in your divorce that you had no idea was in danger of being lost!
Even the “friendliest” no-contest divorce is a complex legal matter, and there are many legal forms that must be filled out and filed with precise detail. So don’t leave your future up to chance – hire someone who knows what they’re doing.
Where to get your divorce forms…
All of the forms you’ll need to file for your divorce are normally available at the civil court division in your city.
There, you should be able to get access to all the paperwork you need, and then it’s just a matter of making sure everything is filled out correctly so there won’t be any unforeseen delay in getting your paperwork filed with the court.
Though the actual filing for divorce is pretty simple and straightforward, most states require a waiting period between the time you file and the time the divorce is finalized and your marriage is over.
Keep in mind that no matter how well you may get along with your soon-to-be-ex spouse, divorce is a difficult transition even in the best of circumstances. Surround yourself with good people, take care of yourself, and do what you can to make it through this time as quickly and healthily as possible.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rick D. Banks is a nationally recognized divorce and trial attorney and mediator. His website, www.NoBSDivorceAdviceGuide.com, provides a wealth of information and resources on everything you’ll ever need to know about divorce.
Rick D. Banks is a nationally recognized divorce and trial attorney and mediator. His website, http://www.NoBSDivorceAdviceGuide.com, provides a wealth of information and resources on everything you’ll ever need to know about divorce.
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