Divorces are difficult enough as it is.  In addition to the emotional turmoil that comes with the breakdown of any marriage, there are multiple factors at play in any divorce, including but not limited to custody, child support, and the division of marital property.  While it may be tempting to attempt to handle this process yourself, hiring an experienced family law attorney to help you with your divorce offers several important benefits. 

3 Reasons to Hire a Divorce Attorney

1. Your Attorney Will Know How Your Facts Apply to Alabama Law

In every divorce case, you will always be the expert on the facts.  After all, you lived through them, not your attorney.  But you won’t be able to grasp all the legal ramifications of your facts like your attorney will. Your attorney can offer critical insight on how the law applies to your facts—and what that means for your case. Your attorney will also have a better grasp of which facts are important to a judge and which ones aren’t.  This insight will help you avoid crucial errors and will put you on track to get the relief you deserve from the court.

2. Your Attorney Will Know What Paperwork to File and When to File It

Your attorney knows what needs to be filed and when.  From filing a Complaint to requesting temporary relief during the pendency of the action to propounding discovery to the opposing party in preparation for trial, your attorney is specially trained to draft and submit paperwork to the court in ways that you aren’t.  Knowing the difference between what to file and when can make the difference between unnecessary delays and a smooth progression in your case. 

3. Your Attorney Can Represent You Better Than You Can Represent Yourself

You may have heard the old saying about how not even barbers cut their own hair, with the implication being that if a barber won’t cut his own hair, then you shouldn’t try to cut yours. The same is true for the legal world.  Representation is almost never as effective if it’s self-representation. Your attorney is not only trained to practice law, with experience in the very courtroom where your case will be heard, but your attorney can also bring a perspective to your case that will help you understand what your options are, when it may be reasonable to settle, and when it makes sense to take a case all the way to trial. These are qualities that you can’t bring to the table if you represent yourself, but they are crucial to helping your successfully litigate your divorce.

The attorneys at J.P. Coleman Law, LLC, practice family law in the greater Baldwin and Mobile County areas. Call today at (251) 947-6247 to schedule a free initial consultation, and visit them online for more information on their services.