Why Not Hiring a Divorce or Family Law Attorney Will Cost You

On an almost daily basis, we get calls from people who have decided to handle their own divorce, paternity, modification or contempt issue without an attorney, only to find out that they cannot handle it, either physically, emotionally or both.

Usually people represent themselves because they either cannot afford an attorney or they do not want to spend the money. However, hiring an attorney now, versus later, will cost you less in the long run, as hiring an attorney in the middle of a case causes the attorney to have to, in addition to representing you in your matter, review the entire file and fix what has gone wrong throughout the case.

Florida law requires certain things to be done in divorce, paternity and other family law matters, such as the filing of financial affidavits, mandatory disclosure compliance, etc. There are also deadlines that must be adhered to. Most people think that they can file their own pleadings and handle the case, but don't realize that there are all sorts of requirements and rules that must be complied with, that are not spelled out for the common lay person, some of which the noncompliance of can be grounds for sanctions and/or attorneys fees awards ordered against you. Additionally, if you handle your own case and the judge enters orders that you are not happy with, the newly hired attorney must go back and try to vacate the order or appeal it, if you haven't missed the deadlines. Appeals and motions to vacate can be very costly.

If you decide not to hire an attorney, and you lose the right to see your children, is it worth it? If you decide not to hire an attorney, and you lost your right to alimony, is it worth it?