 Maybe you don't!
I would say that 97% of all divorce cases end up settling out of court. And lawyers can be expensive! And the Alaska Court System offers the Family Law Self-Help Center, as a free public service to divorce litigants who want to do this on their own and are able to deal fairly with each other to work out custody and property issues amicably. The staff at the Center are lawyers for the most part, and they provide very helpful assistance in navigating the bank of forms (also available online) necessary to process your divorce. However, the staff at the Center will be the first to tell you that they are unable to provide legal advice. So, in a sense, you're charting these waters on your own, and what one of you considers to be "fair and equitable" might not be in the eyes of the law. I can't count the number of times I've had the following discussion with a prospective client: "My spouse wants to split things 50-50. What could be fairer than that? Neither of us is getting more, or less, than the other?" The law of Alaska answers this question, and provides that the court can consider a number of factors in deciding what is "fair and equitable", including disparity in income, health and age of the parties, length of the marriage, etc. I've told many people that they may not need a lawyer. The choice is yours. If you would like to learn more about whether your case can be resolved without representation, please give me a call.
14 Comments
Ms Kennedy
9/28/2016 09:05:53 am
Dear Counsel, 9/28/2016 09:06:11 am
Dear Counsel, 2/12/2018 11:02:05 pm
There are lot of reasons for people to hire a divorce lawyer. If you don't know how to file for divorce then you need good legal advice. In this situation you need to hire a divorce lawyer who can be a perfect decision maker for you. A professional lawyer will gives you the best advice and handle your case properly for an amicable settlement. 6/5/2018 11:45:02 am
It's good to know that sometimes you actually don't need a lawyer. It's probably important if you are trying to decide how to split things up though, like you said. You want to make sure you go through the process fairly. 11/9/2018 11:58:10 am
I didn't realize how many divorces actually settle outside of court. But it's good to know that if I need a lawyer, I can find one with a lot of experience. 2/18/2019 02:30:51 am
Always trust the professional, in affairs of law as in so many other situations in life. There are things that are DIY and things that a professional can best handle. Even lawyers hire other lawyers.Finding a good attorney is tough but once you find it , you can get rid of all your legal problems. 3/18/2019 10:54:22 am
It's really great that you can get help from divorce lawyers through public services as well as hiring them. Personally, I think it would be best to hire a divorce attorney if you can afford it. That way, you know that they will be higher quality and have more successful cases. 3/18/2019 09:34:03 pm
My sister and her husband are having marriage problems for a while now and they are now planning to get divorced. It was explained here that it's important to have someone who can provide necessary help when processing a divorce. Moreover, it's recommended to hire an experienced divorce attorney for the best outcome. 7/30/2019 01:35:42 pm
I've been having some rough marriage problems. I do think I might settle for a divorce here soon. As you said, it would be best to go with a lawyer on this. 12/6/2019 08:16:14 am
It's interesting to know that a divorce lawyer can help you to determine what is fair and equitable for your divorce. My brother is getting divorced, and we are looking for advice to help him. I will let him know about the benefits of hiring a divorce lawyer to help him during the process. 4/15/2020 10:08:46 am
Hi, I was not aware that most divorce cases will settle up out of court. My wife and I are thinking about how to help my brother with his divorce, and we are looking for advice. I will let her know about your recommendations to choose the right family lawyer to help us. 11/10/2020 08:15:41 pm
It never occurred to me that most divorce cases are settled outside of court. I think this would definitely be the best scenario for couples with kids who are looking to get a divorce. I will advise my brother to seek professional counsel to seek the best method to have it settled outside of court since there are kids involved. 12/1/2020 09:58:28 am
It's good to know that the court can decide what is fair and equitable. Getting a divorce attorney in that situation sounds like the best idea. They can help keep the agreement at 50/50 or even help you get more out of it. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorDoug Perkins, at Hartig Rhodes LLC, has an active family law practice, including prenuptial agreements and adoptions, and cases involving divorce, property, child custody and support, and domestic violence. ArchivesCategories
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