With the Internet at the public’s disposal, a common perception is that the DIY (Do-It-Yourself) approach is entirely acceptable for divorce. This unfortunate event is often pursued alone, without the help of a trained professional. Some people rely on forms and instructions generated from Internet websites.
Hiring an attorney can cost thousands of dollars, and not everyone is ready to pay that amount of money as quickly as these events sometimes arise. So the big question is, “Can I Pursue A Divorce on My Own?”
In some cases, a divorce can be pursued without the help of an attorney. But, not ALL divorces are simple enough to make DIY you method of choice. Let’s talk really quickly about the types of divorces that exist.
Types of Divorces
There are 2 main types of divorces: uncontested and contested. You can read more about what the difference between these divorces are here. Beyond that, the divorces branch out into about twenty or so other types of divorces dependent upon whether there are children or assets that need to be separated. For example, you may be faced with an uncontested divorce with children, but no property to separate. Or, you could be faced with a contested divorce with children and multiple properties to separate. The type of divorce you are looking to obtain will inform level of complexity, time, cost, and whether you should hire an attorney or not.
What type of divorce could I potentially pursue on my own?
Generally, an uncontested divorce with NO children and NO property is the type of divorce you should be successful at pursuing on your own. This is because there is essentially nothing for you to separate. No children. No home. No money. No assets to your name.
You may even be able to DIY-divorce yourself if it is uncontested divorce with property, but no children. Couples often can come to an agreement about who gets what asset or debt.
But at any time, these types of divorces can become messy as couples begin to spar over certain conditions. At that point, people begin to realize that getting a divorce is not as simple as drawing up a few documents. The language inside these documents will largely have an impact on your future. An attorney on your side will protect you in the event that your soon-to-be ex-spouse wants to force certain conditions on you.
When and Why should I hire an attorney for a divorce?
Especially when children are involved, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse should seek to hire an attorney. The determination of child custody is complex. There are laws that govern how this happens in Texas and certain language that must be included in divorce documents. Whether your divorce is contested or not, you should retain the services of a Family Law Attorney to make sure your decisions through this process are informed and that legal procedures are followed through with correctly.
An attorney is a crucial part in the process of getting a divorce. A good Family Law Attorney, like the Hernandez Law Group, is well-versed in the Texas Family Code and will fight to make sure your divorce ends with the terms that you desire. We explain what your options are, what the opposing party is offering or proposing, and although we cannot make decisions for you, we can explain what the future may look like (legally speaking) should you choose one option over another.
Although it takes money to hire an attorney, you will probably end up spending less money and time in the long run because you had a professional in the language of law looking out for you and your family’s best interest.
How quickly can I divorce myself?
Pursuing a divorce on your own can really slow down the process. That’s because you would have to create the documents on your own, make sure all the language is correct and reflects your own best interest, and then figure out the process for getting all the paperwork into the court system. You still need to attend hearings and you still need to have a judge preside over your matter.
Our office is so experienced, we can potentially get the divorce done in 90 days. (Disclaimer: Your divorce must meet the conditions necessary for this to happen.) This is standard in Texas, and 90 days is the minimum amount of time it takes to obtain a divorce.
So if you’re looking to get a divorce as quickly as possible, you should come to our office to get it done.
Main Point:
Do you have to hire an attorney to get a divorce? No. Should you hire an attorney for a divorce? In most cases, yes. When the divorce is deemed “contested” and/or has complicated issues such as separation of children, assets, etc., then you’ll want to hire us here at the Hernandez Law Group to protect yourself, your children, and your assets.
Come by our office for a consultation with the attorney to get any of your Family Law questions answered. Our consultations are no-obligation, so if you’re just looking to get some questions answered, our office will be happy to assist you. Call today to set up a meeting with our attorney.
Disclaimer: No attorney-client relationship has formed as a result of one using this website. No legal advice is intended through content disseminated in this website. Legal advice from the Hernandez Law Group or any of its agents can only be given by the Hernandez Law Group after the Hernandez Law Group can investigate individual claims and assess conflict of interests, if any. An attorney-client relationship with the Hernandez Law Group or any of its agents can only be attained after the Hernandez Law Group can investigate individual claims and assess conflict of interests, if any. The Hernandez Law Group does not guarantee any results.