Why You Should Not Represent Yourself in Your Divorce

There are a number of reasons why it is critical that you have competent legal representation throughout your divorce. To learn more about why you should not represent yourself, continue reading and reach out to a skilled Nassau County divorce attorney today.

Custody disagreements need qualified family law legal representation.

It is important to be mindful of the mistakes that can be made if you are going through a custody battle and you choose to represent yourself. The most common mistakes include the following:

• You open yourself up to false accusations. It may be unattainable to protect yourself in the event that your spouse lies to the court about how you are an unfit parent. With the help of a lawyer, you can feel more confident knowing that you have the representation you need to combat falsehoods.
• Not taking into account the meaning of sole legal custody. In some circumstances, your spouse’s attorney might offer shared physical custody and sole legal custody for their client. By consenting to your spouse receiving sole legal custody you will have no say in decisions connected to your child’s medical care, schooling, or religious upbringing.
• You let your emotions get in the way. Custody battles can get serious. Acting on your emotions in court by being visibly upset can make it that much more challenging for you to make your case. A lawyer is your advocate and voice, whose purpose is to make your case so you can stay comfortable.

Judges favor both parties to have attorneys.

Family courts in New York are almost always pressed for time dealing with an overabundance of cases. Unless you happen to be trained in family law, representing yourself in divorce puts you at risk for straining the court’s time on topics that have simply no bearing upon the facts or the outcome of your case, or you will need a great deal of explanation from the judge on basic legal issues. Because it creates a more realistic, efficient courtroom, most judges favor both parties to have attorneys representing them.

Your attorney will act as your buffer.

If you try to resolve your matter outside of court (i.e., via mediation), representing yourself in your divorce raises the chances that you will need to speak directly with your spouse, or his or her attorney. If emotions are still running high between you two, functional contact over legal issues may be next to impossible. Having an attorney in charge of legal contact can reduce the chance of honest feelings forcing the divorce off-track.

Contact our experienced Nassau County firm

The Pollack Law Firm, P.C., rated Nassau County’s “BEST” divorce lawyers and proudly serving clients in Nassau and Suffolk County for more than 25 years, is always available to assist and represent parties in divorce, separation, and all other matrimonial and family law matters. Contact us online or call today to schedule your complimentary case analysis: (516) 938-3330.