It is now very common to hear of people doing their own divorce, known as a pro se divorce, in all areas of the state including in Deerfield and throughout the areas surrounding Chicago. However, failing to at least consult with family lawyers, even with what appears to be a simple divorce, can have far-reaching implications, and may end up costing you even more money in the future.
The most common reason that people provide for not hiring a divorce attorney is because of the cost involved. In reality, having an attorney may actually help to ensure you get what is fair and legally yours through the divorce. Should you fail to do this, you will need to hire an attorney in the future, and in some cases it may limit future actions that can be taken to correct the mistake or omission.
Children and Custody
If there are children involved in the divorce, having family lawyers is a must. Child custody and support issues can be complicated, and it becomes even more difficult if there is the possibility that one of the parents may be hiding income to limit their requirement for child support.
Other issues to consider are how accurate the information you have about child custody and child support may be. While child support is calculated on a formula, there are other factors that can come into play. Information online or in do-it-yourself divorce books is often outdated, which can lead to misinformation and lack of documentation when parents come into the court without legal representation.
Alimony
For longer marriages and marriages where one spouse may have given up a career to stay at home with the kids, alimony may be considered by the court. Not everyone will be eligible for alimony in the state, and there are considerations as to age, health, mental health issues, and even the present and future earning capacity of the both of the spouses that will come under consideration.
Tax and Property Issues
How you elect to divide up the physical property, how child support is handled, and even if it makes sense to request alimony will all be issues that family lawyers will discuss with you to see if they are really in your best interest.
Understanding if you are eligible for a portion of the spouse’s retirement savings, investments, and even pensions are all important to know. In addition as a marital property state, understanding what Deerfield property can be considered in the divorce and what is separate property will be important to discuss with an attorney with experience in family law cases.
