3 Reasons to Avoid a DIY Divorce in Texas

 Posted on June 10, 2024 in Divorce

Divorces in Texas can be lengthy and expensive. This is especially true in the case of a contested divorce, where the parties disagree on some or all issues. Some spouses, therefore, try to manage the divorce process on their own rather than pay attorney fees. They feel confident that they can represent themselves instead of being represented by a Texas divorce lawyer. What can an attorney do, they ask, that Google cannot?

As it turns out, a lot. It is true that you are not required to have legal counsel and you can fill out forms online. However, there are significant reasons why a do-it-yourself divorce is not ideal, and this article will discuss three of them.

A DIY Divorce Can Be More Expensive in the Long Run

A Google search can only take you so far. There are legal nuances that a divorce attorney can spot that are mostly learned from experience. Missing these nuances can lead to mistakes, which can end up being very costly in a divorce because:

• They can lengthen the divorce process.

• They can lead to errors that are more expensive in the long run. An example of this is debt division. Debt division is a procedure where the community debt, or debt that was incurred by either party during the marriage, is divided between the spouses. Without a divorce lawyer, you may not know how to use the law to minimize that debt and you can be saddled with unnecessary debt for years.

Google Does Not Provide Proper Legal Advice

Google and ChatGPT should not be relied on to give proper legal advice. And, while you can find case law online, court judgments do not always come down to what is in the law text. Judges know how to use the law to achieve certain objectives, which may not be aligned with yours. Courts also rely on precedent, which is the previous ruling of another court. It is not easy to research precedent.

An experienced attorney, however, knows how a judge is likely to view a certain case and can wield the law to swing the case in your favor.

DIY Divorces Often Involve Unnecessary Stress

A DIY divorce usually brings along with it unwanted and unnecessary stress. The sheer preparation for even one court hearing can be daunting. Having to research every issue in depth can be time-consuming and stressful, which are two things you do not need when going through a divorce.

Confidence, however, is the antidote to stress. An experienced divorce lawyer knows what to do in each situation and will be unfazed by new developments.

Contact a Bexar County, TX Divorce Attorney

An experienced San Antonio, Texas divorce lawyer can be the difference between a successful and smooth divorce or a time-consuming, messy, and rocky divorce. At Brandon Wong & Associates, we handle every part of your divorce, from start to finish. Our experienced divorce attorneys are well-versed in case law and familiar with court rulings. Let us manage your divorce and avoid long-term costs and unnecessary stress. Call 210-201-3832 for a consultation today.