On its face, the divorce process may seem relatively straightforward, especially if you and your spouse are on somewhat amicable terms and you think you can work out a resolution with them. As a result, you might be driven to save money by foregoing legal representation in your marriage dissolution. But moving in that direction can be a huge mistake that proves detrimental to your future. That’s why in this post we want to look at the risks of pursuing divorce on your own. That way you can make a fully informed decision that protects your interests throughout your divorce proceedings.
While it’s true that no one knows your marriage and what you want out of the future like you do, that doesn’t necessarily position you to effectively advocate for yourself without assistance. Here are some of the biggest risks of handling divorce on your own:
- Failing to properly identify the marital estate: Since the assets in the marital estate should be equitably divided, your share will be tied to the size of that estate. But, if you acquiesce to your spouse removing assets from the estate or unwittingly agree that certain assets are individually owned by your spouse, then you could lose out on much needed financial resources that otherwise could help you establish your post-divorce life. On the flip side, if you don’t know how to argue that you individually own certain assets, then your spouse might coax you into giving part of them over as a condition of your divorce settlement.
- Misunderstanding tax implications: The logistics of property division during divorce can have enormous tax implications if you’re not careful. That’s why it’s imperative that you know the proper way to divide these assets, which may require additional court orders.
- Misunderstanding applicable legal standards: To obtain a favorable outcome in your divorce, you have to know the law and how it applies to your set of circumstances. If you don’t, then there’s a good chance that you’ll make a mistake that proves detrimental to your desired outcome. This can affect everything from property division to alimony and child custody.
- Failing to properly account for marital debts: While you’ll have to figure out to divide marital assets in your divorce, you’ll also have to find a way to get a handle on marital debts. If you don’t know how to properly navigate these issues, then you may wind up stuck with more than your fair share of debt, which can be a tremendous burden as you start the next chapter of your life.
- Increasing emotional strain: Handling divorce issues can be emotionally and psychologically trying. This can make it difficult to see legal issues clearly, and it can be taxing on your overall well-being. By having assistance in your corner, though, you can distance yourself from the front lines of your divorce a bit, and rest assured that you have an advocate on your side. This can ease tensions and stress, thereby making the divorce process a little easier.
Don’t be your own worst enemy in divorce
Handling marriage dissolution on your own is risky. It can lead to unnecessary delays and outcomes that are contrary to what you want. While your desire to save time and money is understandable, the fact of the matter is that an unwittingly made mistake can prove more costly than it may otherwise be to secure assistance. If you want to learn more about what an experienced divorce attorney may be able to do to position you for the successful divorce outcome that you want, then we encourage you to consider researching your options further.