Should I Hire a Lawyer For My Divorce?

Are you going through a split with your spouse?

Divorce happens. Statistically, up to 50% of all marriages end in divorce. The divorce rate is going down, but there’s no shame in becoming part of that statistic.

You might be wondering whether or not hiring a divorce lawyer is a worthwhile investment. Legal representation is expensive, and if your marriage is coming to a close respectfully, it might seem unnecessary.

We’re here to help you decide. Keep reading to learn whether or not you should hire a lawyer for your divorce.

Fault or No-Fault?

Is this going to be a fault divorce or a no-fault divorce?

No-fault divorces are the most common. This means that both spouses don’t bring anything too incriminating to the table. The general reason for these divorces, at least on paper, is “irreconcilable differences.”

No-fault divorces are legal country-wide, which helps people avoid being trapped in unhealthy partnerships.

If you have a no-fault divorce, it’s possible that you can avoid seeking legal representation. With a fault divorce, you’re going to want someone to guide you through the legal complications.

You also have the unlikely issue of one partner not being willing to agree to the divorce. This can cause the whole process to slow down. Look into the difference between an uncontested vs contested divorce for more information.

Complicating Factors

Speaking of complications, are there complicating factors in your marriage or divorce?

These things won’t always be problematic, but they often are. If you have young children, an extreme difference in income, many assets to divide, or even a debate over who keeps the family home (if anyone), these are difficult things to negotiate unless you and your spouse are on excellent terms.

Who is going to get custody of the children, and who will pay child support? Is there going to be alimony involved? How much?

How can you decide which belongings go to which spouse?

Spouses who are amicable and who have already discussed these things either amongst themselves or with a counselor may be able to get away with no help at all (or mediation). Once disputes start, hire an attorney.

Does Your Spouse Have an Attorney?

Even if you weren’t planning on hiring a divorce lawyer, you might want to change plans if your spouse has already hired one.

Lawyers aren’t there to make you adversaries, but that’s often the result of hiring them. If one partner has a lawyer and the other doesn’t, the one without a lawyer is going to be at a disadvantage.

No matter how good you think your spouse’s intentions are, make sure you’re on an equal playing field and hire the best divorce lawyer in Toronto that you can if you need one.

Do You Need to Hire a Lawyer?

The divorce process is messy regardless of how amicable you and your spouse are. When in doubt, hiring a lawyer can make the process a lot easier and less stressful.

Hire a lawyer and make the divorce a quick and easy affair.

For more helpful legal articles, visit the rest of our site.