It is quite common for couples to choose not to work with an attorney and to try to handle their divorce and custody case themselves. These couples hope to save money and feel that an attorney isn’t necessary. However, in most cases, a do-it-yourself divorce isn’t the best plan for you and your family, for reasons you may not understand at the time.
We can help you resolve your divorce and custody case. Call the Law Offices of Paul F. Sherman at (503) 223-8441 or Contact Us for a free divorce and custody consultation.
IT TAKES TIME TO PROPERLY HANDLE A DIVORCE AND CUSTODY CASE.
Many of our clients are unaware of the time and effort necessary to properly handle a divorce and custody case. Although couples try to handle a divorce on their own, they simply do not have the time it takes to research the applicable divorce laws, gather all the necessary documentation, to prepare the necessary court filings and to follow through with the required court appearances. In order to obtain the best possible result on your divorce and custody case, you will need to devote a lot of time and effort to the dissolution process. You will need the advice and skill of an experienced divorce and custody attorney to properly evaluate your case objectively and help you make the difficult decisions required by a divorce and custody case.
YOU SHOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO HANDLE A CONTESTED DIVORCE YOURSELF.
Abe Lincoln is often quoted for an old adage in law which provides that “A lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client.” This is especially true for any divorce and custody case. It is extremely difficult to remove yourself from the inevitable emotional turmoil caused by divorce and custody cases. Divorce and custody cases commonly generate frustration and anger between the parties. This results in the inability to think clearly. If you are angry or frustrated with your spouse and cannot agree on the terms of your divorce or custody case, you should absolutely not attempt to handle your case without an attorney. Many parties fall into the trap of agreeing to something just to get the case over with, just to release the anxiety caused by the divorce and custody case, or just to make the proceedings stop. Inevitably this results in a poor choice for you and your family. Moreover, the emotional components of divorce often result in neglect and the failure to address important issues without the assistance of an experienced divorce attorney. A skilled divorce attorney can insulate you from contact with the other party and provide you rational, objective advice in how to handle your case.
More importantly, most parties do not have the education and experience necessary to properly evaluate their case and to draft the documents necessary to effectively resolve their case. Most do-it-yourself divorce judgments are fatally defective and simply unenforceable. This requires the parties to spend substantial amounts of money to correct mistakes which should never have been made in the first place and sometimes results in an inability to recover your fair share of the marital estate.
A SKILLED DIVORCE ATTORNEY IS AWARE OF LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES YOU MAY NOT EVEN CONSIDER.
Couples attempting to resolve divorce issues on their own certainly do not have the knowledge and experience necessary to understand the long-term implications of a divorce. Most couples are unaware of important tax implications involved in the divorce. Most couples do not have sufficient knowledge or skill to draft judgments which are enforceable in court and allow the court to address issues which will inevitably arise regarding disagreements on the sale of the family home, the division of retirement assets, the complicated division of stock options; and other important considerations. Moreover, most couples do not have the experience necessary to draft enforceable parenting plans or enforceable child support agreements. Many of our clients have considerable guilt surrounding the circumstances of their divorce and custody case and make decisions which are not rationally based or in the best interests of their family. Due to the complexity of a divorce, it can be extremely difficult to cover all of your bases without the guidance of a skilled divorce attorney who understands the law and has the experience necessary to protect you and your family.
PAUL F. SHERMAN IS A SKILLED AND EFFECTIVE DIVORCE AND CUSTODY ATTORNEY.
If you are considering divorce in Oregon, Washington or California, we invite you to contact the Law Offices of Paul F. Sherman to obtain expert advice on your divorce or custody case.
We know you have questions, we have answers. If you would like to have more information on how to handle your divorce or custody case, call the Law Offices of Paul F. Sherman at (503) 223-8441 or Contact Us for a free divorce and custody consultation.