Q: WHO NEEDS DIVORCE LAWYERS WITH DIY & ONLINE DIVORCE?
A: MOST PEOPLE, TO ENSURE YOU CAN MAKE GOOD CHOICES & GET THE BEST OUTCOME.
HERE ARE JUST 6 REASONS WHY:
The Divorce Order Myth
Couples believe getting the divorce severs their financial ties and obligations to one another, but it does not. This cannot be done without a Financial Remedy Order. These can be complex to draw up and often more difficult to agree upon without legal advice. Until a final financial remedy order is achieved, parties can make financial claims against each other’s income, assets and pensions, even when these have been accrued after the parties have separated.
The DIY false Economy
“We didn’t use a lawyer because we agreed it between us at the time.” All too often something lawyers hear when one party later decides that they weren’t happy with the agreed outcome or wants to pursue a pension claim or a greater capital settlement. And did you know, that if there was no Court Order in place, those previous agreements are not in any way binding. The other party can still take the matter to Court, whereupon the Court will consider the assets at that time and not at the point of separation. No Order, No Problem – there is!
Remarriage Trap
After a final divorce is pronounced, if either party subsequently remarries, that party cannot then apply against their former spouse for all financial provision orders or a property adjustment order if they haven’t made an earlier application. This is widely known as the “remarriage trap”. It is important to get advice at the time of your divorce and certainly before considering a re-marriage or if you think the other party may re-marry.
Inheritance protection
If you haven’t concluded your divorce and one party dies (unexpectedly or otherwise) before it concludes, this can completely change the landscape of who gets what if you have not had legal advice to protect that position beforehand
Home sweet Home (or is it)
If you’ve separated without legal advice and only one of you has your name on the matrimonial property, it can sometimes mean that the property is at risk if the proper protections have not been put in place to safeguard it from sale or further borrowing by the owner, or you could run the risk of returning home one day to the locks being changed. Getting legal advice before leaving the property is key to protecting your interest in the home.
The Clock Catch
If you are conducting your divorce without a lawyer, do you know and understand the implications of when you can and when you should start to deal with the financial matters or even be able to make an application to Court or finalise a Financial Agreement? Getting legal advice on these issues can be extremely important to getting a proper finalised concluded agreement that can be given legal effect.
Fixed Fee Family Law Advice
Dootsons provide an initial meeting with an experienced solicitor for just £150 +VAT. During the meeting, you’ll be able to talk about your current situation with a specialist family law solicitor who will explain what options are available to you, answer any questions you may have and advise you on the next steps. After the initial consultation, you can choose the level of further support you require, based on your specific needs.
