11 Crucial Questions You Need to Ask Yourself Before You Run Off and Hire an Attorney
- Have you prepared for your divorce? It is not wise to tell your partner you want a divorce until all your ducks are in a row.
- Did you know that you can get divorced without attorneys? You can either do it yourself or hire a mediator.
- Do you understand how the adversarial legal system works and how it could hurt you? It is never wise to enter a system you know nothing about.
- Do you know the rules of the game? You don’t want others dividing up what used to be yours.
- Do you understand the difference between an adversarial litigated divorce versus a mediated pro se divorce?
- Do you know that you need a written separation agreement to get divorced and what needs to be in it in order to protect your future? It’s important to know this upfront so there are no surprises.
- Do you have the right information, so you can make informed decisions? Your lawyer may not tell you everything you need to know.
- Do you know what financial and legal mistakes not to make?
- Did you know that lawyers can’t make you decide anything? Only a judge can decide what you will or won’t get if both parties can’t reach an agreement.
- Did you know that most people were much happier with the results of their divorce when they mediated? Mediation helps you to maintain control over your divorce and keeps you at the hub of the wheel.
- Did you know that you can lose your power when you retain an attorney? They can set pre-trials without your permission and force you to settle. You want to go around the system instead of through it.