Do You Need a Lawyer for a Divorce in Texas?

do you need a lawyer for divorce

Filing for divorce can be one of the most stressful and emotionally draining experiences in your life, and the last thing you want to do is also drain your bank account in the process.

One of the most common questions our attorneys are asked at The Stout Law Firm is do I need a lawyer to get a divorce?

An experienced divorce lawyer can be critical to the success of your divorce case in both contested and uncontested situations.

Having a divorce attorney by your side from the moment you decide to file for divorce can expedite the process, saving time, money, and reducing strain for everyone involved.

Don’t hesitate to contact The Stout Law Firm, PLLC today.

Do I Need a Lawyer to File for Divorce? These Questions Might Help.

Attempting to navigate a divorce on your own is a dangerous and potentially disastrous endeavor. Even if you think that you are saving money by doing it all on your own, the extended amount of time involved in managing a divorce by yourself might actually cost you more in the long run.

In addition to the actual time and cost of litigating a divorce case, you might end up losing out on assets and support that an experienced divorce attorney would have been able to secure on your behalf.

If you are still on the fence about whether you need a lawyer for your divorce case, consider whether any of the following questions apply to your situation. If they do, you should seriously consider hiring a divorce lawyer to handle your affairs and advocate for your needs.

  • Do you have minor children?
  • Do you have real estate?
  • Do you or your spouse have retirement plans?
  • Will you or your spouse be requesting spousal support (otherwise known as alimony) after the divorce?
  • Do you or your children have any special needs (medical, educational, etc.)?
  • Do you have a complicated financial situation?
  • Do you and your spouse have complete financial information about your marital situation?
  • Are you able to file all of the paperwork yourself?
  • Is every single term of your divorce agreed upon, or are some issues unsettled?
  • Are you willing to invest the time, money, and stress of navigating the court system of divorce by yourself?
  • Are you prepared to handle the emotional and psychological strain that comes with divorce?

DO YOU NEED A LAWYER FOR DIVORCE FAQ

A Lawyer Can Help with Contested and Uncontested Divorce Cases

The need for an experienced divorce attorney is fairly obvious in a contested divorce case. If you and your soon-to-be former spouse cannot agree on the terms of your divorce, you want a lawyer advocating for your needs and rights with the opposing party.

An attorney knows the law, the court, and most likely the judge in charge of your case. An attorney also knows how to negotiate with your spouse’s attorney and how to make the best arguments for your case.

If the issues go to trial, you want an experienced divorce attorney zealously advocating for you in front of a judge and jury for the terms you feel you deserve based on the marriage.

If you find yourself asking, do I need a divorce lawyer for an uncontested divorce, the answer is still yes.

It may sound counterintuitive because the purpose of an uncontested case is that you and your spouse agree on the terms of the divorce, but a divorce attorney can still be incredibly useful in uncontested divorce cases.

Most people forget that you still have to go through the entire divorce process in an uncontested divorce. This includes all of the documentation, presenting the paperwork to the judge, getting court approval of the terms, and finalizing the divorce. Because of this, an attorney can be helpful in a number of ways.

For one, a divorce lawyer can speed along the process by drafting, reviewing, and submitting all of the relevant paperwork to expedite the divorce.

In addition, some uncontested divorces turn into contested divorce cases when the agreement falls apart, and you want an attorney who has been there from the beginning and understands the full scope of your marriage and the case.

Want to Learn More? Call Us Today.

If you find yourself asking, “do I need a lawyer to file for divorce?” and would like to learn more about how a lawyer can help you with your divorce case or to learn more about the range of legal services we offer our clients, contact The Stout Law Firm in Houston today.

Schedule a confidential consultation with one of our experienced divorce and family law attorneys who can walk you through the steps of your divorce case and your legal options.

Angela Stout

Angela A. Stout was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2007. Ms. Stout has practiced law since 2007, with an emphasis in representing clients in family law matters. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law in May of 2007. Ms. Stout became Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in December of 2015. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization is a specialized group of attorneys that must obtain exceptional experience in a specific area of law, pass a comprehensive exam, and complete ongoing continuing legal education in that specialized area. Additionally, Ms. Stout is certified as a mediator by the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center.

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