It’s true: divorce is expensive. There are plenty of people out there who handle their own divorces every year. In fact, family law has one of the largest percentages of unrepresented ( pro se ) parties of any area of law. And there are definitely times when you may not need a lawyer. For instance, if you and your spouse get a long great, have relatively no assets or debts, have no children, and feel you can navigate the paperwork, then you may be okay filing an uncontested divorce in South Carolina .
Of course, most divorces aren’t that easy. Most people have stuff they will inevitably fight over. There may be children, a home, cars, retirement accounts, and tax issues. Still, it would be naïve to ignore that many people are already struggling financially. So, what do you do if you can’t afford a divorce lawyer? Here are just a few tips and suggestions to consider before you give up and do it yourself.
Do You Actually Know What it Will Cost?
A quick internet search will make you think divorce lawyers are all out to fleece you with massive fees. No doubt, plenty of divorce cases do result in high attorney fees, but a lot of that is up to the parties. Attorneys who handle divorce cases charge based on the time they expend working on your case. If you and your spouse can get along well enough to put aside your differences and focus on the task at hand, you can greatly reduce your costs.
But have you actually talked to a divorce lawyer about your situation? Do you know the hourly rate and have an estimate of what it will cost to file your case? If not, then you at least owe it to yourself to speak with an attorney before making the decision to represent yourself.
What Assets Do You Actually have?
You may think you are broke and can’t afford an attorney, but a lot of people find out that this is not true. For instance, you and your spouse may decide that your large suburban home is no longer feasible after divorce. You may reach the conclusion that for you both to make it after the divorce, you’ll need to sell the house and find two separate places that are more cost-effective. If so, you may be able to use the proceeds of the sale to cover some of the costs of the divorce. The same may be true of luxury items like boats, motorcycles, or extra vehicles. When you are getting divorced, you may have to make sacrifices in the short-term, so that you can rebuild later.
What are the Costs of Not Hiring a Lawyer?
While it is true that you will have to pay a lawyer to help with your divorce, it’s also true that people who don’t use a lawyer often make serious mistakes. For instance, here are just a few ways self-represented people create problems for themselves:
- Missing deadlines
- Incorrect pleadings
- Tax mistakes
- Over or under calculating support or alimony
Talk to a South Carolina Divorce Lawyer Today
A simple mistake in your divorce petition could cost you lengthy delays in getting your divorce resolved. This could mean numerous unnecessary court appearances (and time off work). A mistake made calculating child support could mean over or underpaying by thousands each year.
If you are facing a divorce, you owe it to yourself to at least speak with a divorce lawyer first. Find out the real costs, and work with an attorney to build a customized plan for getting through your divorce as efficiently as possible, while still getting it right the first time around. If you need help with your divorce, call Lauren Taylor Law today.
South Carolina divorce attorney Lauren Taylor practices family law in Charleston and Greenville. She graduated from the Charlotte School of Law, and has been practicing for more than ten years.
Since the firm’s inception in 2012, Mrs. Taylor has helped hundreds of people navigate the uncertainties surrounding the family and criminal court process.
She has cultivated a team that ensures each case has a strategy crafted specifically to the clients needs and desires.
Her commitment to top notch service has led her to open two additional offices in the low country where she now resides with her husband Michael and her golden retriever, Buster.