Sometimes couples going through a divorce don’t have a lot of disagreements between them. If you are one of them, then you might think that it’s not necessary to speak with a St. Louis divorce attorney. However, being represented by a lawyer should not only be reserved for difficult cases but should be a legal precaution anytime you are going through a life-changing decision that gets you to court.
Your Spouse Might Take Advantage of Your Lack of Legal Representation
If your spouse has a divorce lawyer and you don’t, you can expect them to have the upper hand when it comes to the division of assets, the divorce settlement, and custody of your minor children. Even if you still trust them not to purposely attack your best interest, their lawyer will make sure that they will get the most out of the divorce.
What you consider to be a clear agreement between you and your spouse might actually hold conditions that you don’t know about, and being confronted with an elaborate strategy during the trial will catch you off-guard.
The Law Isn’t Always Black and White
If the reason why you don’t want to hire a divorce lawyer is thinking that you know exactly what the outcome will be for you and your spouse, think again. The law has certain areas that are not black and white, and are subject to interpretation. These bits are what lawyers know how to work with to win a case, and a lack of experience could cause you to miss out on what you are entitled to.
Attorneys Are Not Allowed to Represent Both Parties in a Litigation Case
Some couples are considering getting the same lawyer to represent both of them in their divorce case, to minimize costs and potential conflict. In Missouri, the law prevents an attorney to represent opposing parties in a litigation case, because it’s a clear conflict of interests. Even if the two spouses believe that their unofficial agreement covered all the details of their future divorce, some unexpected issues will arise and the lawyer will have to choose sides.
Costs Shouldn’t Prevent You from Receiving Legal Help
Most of the times, when clients ask about this possibility, it’s because they want to reduce costs. The truth is that divorce is one of those situations in life when you have to make sacrifices to defend your own interests, especially when children are involved. Fortunately, there are many solutions for people who cannot afford a down payment for a lawyer, so ask your attorney about financing options.
Getting legal representation is the best thing you can do when going through a divorce because it protects you from many mistakes that can affect the rest of your family’s life. Get in touch with an experienced St. Louis divorce lawyer today to discuss your options.
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