Can You Get a Divorce Without an Attorney?

Going through a divorce is never an easy process. However, going through one without the support of an experienced Denver divorce attorney is even more challenging. A divorce can be emotionally stressful, time-consuming, and of course, expensive. Without guidance from a divorce attorney who understands the intricacies of a divorce process, these issues tend to only magnify. Technically, you can file for divorce without the assistance of a divorce lawyer, but we highly recommend you consider all your options to improve your chances of receiving a favorable outcome for you and your family.

In this blog, we’re taking a closer look into the divorce process and discussing why some individuals may choose to pursue a divorce without hiring a divorce attorney. We also review some of the top reasons why you should certainly consider having one of these legal professionals on your side during a divorce in Colorado.

Peek Vazquez Family Law is your premier Colorado family law firm. As experienced and empathetic Denver divorce attorneys, we understand the challenges of a divorce and will work hard to ensure our clients meet their family goals. In addition to Colorado divorce cases, our family law office also specializes in many different family law practice areas, including adoption, alimony, child custody, and also common law marriages in Colorado. If you’re in need of a family law attorney you can trust, Peek Vasquez Family Law is here to help. 

Can You Get a Divorce Without an Attorney?

Technically, yes, you can file for a divorce without the support of a divorce attorney. However, this option is generally not recommended as there are many advantages to having a legal expert on your side to represent your interests. Pursuing a divorce without a divorce lawyer may work in cases of an uncontested divorce. An uncontested divorce is one where both parties agree to the complete terms of the divorce. This includes factors such as division of property, assets, debts, and any potential child custody issues.

While an uncontested divorce is an ideal result for couples, it rarely turns into reality. Most former spouses will have some points of contention or issues they cannot resolve on their own. This is when it would be beneficial to have the legal support of an experienced divorce lawyer. They can serve as a mediator and help you negotiate to ensure that your rights and interests are protected. This is especially important if the other spouse has already hired an attorney. When one spouse has legal representation and the other does not, the outcome tends to favor the one with legal support. 

What Does a Divorce Attorney Do?

It’s important to first understand what an experienced divorce attorney can bring to the table for your divorce proceeding. Essentially, a divorce lawyer is a legal professional who represents an individual as they’re going through a divorce. They’ll leverage their experience and knowledge to help their client achieve their family goals. 

These legal professionals can handle all the aspects and finer details of the divorce. They also work to help their clients gather important documents, file paperwork, and meet all the necessary deadlines. They will also carefully review your case during an initial consultation to help you understand your options from a legal perspective and work to set realistic, attainable goals.

At the end of the day, the main advantage of hiring a Denver divorce attorney is to make the entire divorce process as efficient, quick, and painless as possible for their clients. While they may not be able to guarantee that you’ll achieve all of your goals during the divorce, they will help you understand the specifics of your case, and negotiate on your behalf with other lawyers. If necessary, they will even represent you in a court of law. 

Why Should You Hire a Divorce Attorney?

While it’s possible to get a divorce without an attorney, we also don’t recommend this option. In some cases, such as an uncontested divorce, the two individuals may be able to successfully get a divorce without additional complications or legal assistance. But the reality is that these types of divorces are certainly the exception. Generally, a contested divorce in Colorado is the type of divorce we see.

There are many reasons you should consider hiring a divorce attorney, including:

• Your divorce is contested: contested divorces can quickly become aggressive affairs as each spouse seeks to receive an outcome in their favor. This can be even more difficult when children are involved and you need to negotiate through child custody and alimony. Without the support of a divorce lawyer, you may not end up on the favorable side of these issues.

• The other spouse hired a divorce lawyer: this is a major warning sign that you should seek legal support. When just one spouse has a divorce attorney on their side, they clearly hold the advantage.. Even if the divorce appears amicable at first, the proceedings can quickly become more complicated.

• Extensive legal experience: very few people outside of the legal profession have the experience and knowledge to successfully navigate the complications of a divorce. Leaning on the experience of a divorce attorney can help you navigate through issues like child support, child custody, and the division of property and assets. Since these legal experts have represented many clients in the past, they’ll know how to help you achieve your goals.

• Difficulties with your spouse: while it’d be ideal for each divorce to be as amicable as possible, the reality is that the emotions and stress of a divorce tend to bring out the worst in many individuals. Some spouses can be extremely difficult to work with, which is just one more reason to hire a divorce attorney. They can represent your interests on your behalf so your contact is minimized with your former spouse. For many individuals going through a divorce, this is certainly a preferred option. 

Conclusion – Can You Get a Divorce Without an Attorney?

In the event of an uncontested divorce, each individual has agreed to the terms of the divorce. When both parties agree to issues like assets, debts, and child support, we call this an uncontested divorce. Overall, this can be a relatively simple and quick process. However, few divorces actually end up turning out this way. In most cases, there will be at least one point of disagreement that requires the support and knowledge of a legal professional to help guide both parties through to a successful resolution.

This is why we highly recommend that you seek out the support of an experienced divorce attorney. While you can file for divorce without legal representation, any individual would benefit from the experience, knowledge, and compassion of a divorce attorney. Do yourself a favor and ensure that you have the professional support you need when going through this challenging and emotional experience. Contact us today at the Peek Vasquez Family Law office to learn more about how we can help you through your divorce proceeding and any other family law case. With our simple and fast consultation process, years of unmatched experience, and a team of family law experts, we can set you on the right path toward achieving your family goals.