It may seem like trying to file for divorce without an attorney is a good idea. The reality of a Do It Yourself divorce in North County or Carlsbad or “DIY Divorce” is quite sobering.
California Courts report more than 80% of divorces are filed by the parties themselves, without the representation of an attorney. The State of California and our own family law Judges here in Carlsbad will also tell you that less than half of those are able to complete the divorce on their own, and almost all of those cases take more than a year to complete.
Most people are simply trying to save a little money or looking for a cost-effective divorce. The hidden cost in a DIY divorce cases is time. Time off of work to go to the Court’s “free” clinic for a small allotment of time to complete the “next” piece of the puzzle (and there are a lot of pieces). Most DIY’rs have the experience of going to Court with paperwork which is incorrectly formatted, missing crucial components or unresolved issues within the separation agreement. After receiving the stern opinion of the Judge their case is to be “continued” only to set another court date and come back in the future.
What makes the reality of a Do It Yourself divorce in North County or Carlsbad so hard?
Why do most need an experienced attorney to complete the process (or at the outset of your case)?
The first answer is the paperwork itself. If you are simply two people, with no children and few assets, a DIY divorce may be the right option.
However, many divorces involve children, a family home, retirement and other assets and/or business ownership issues.
Issues associated with the children in the marriage involve complex child custody and parenting time issues as well as child support calculations and proper paperwork. Spousal support, unlike child support, is not a clearly defined formula and calculation under California law.
What else makes the reality of a Do It Yourself divorce in North County or Carlsbad so time consuming and ultimately expensive?
A small 401(k) is actually a substantial legal challenge. Every 401(k) administrator has their own paperwork known as a QDRO that must be exactly formatted for the plan to accept it. The Court must approve the division of retirement assets as well as all community property.
Our attorneys understand the monetary pressures on divorce in Carlsbad and North County and offer cost-effective strategies to help complete your divorce more efficiently and in a timely manner. Our decades of experience offer valuable insight for our clients to help resolve challenging disputes you may be experiencing with your former spouse.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective divorce our staff will help to prepare all paperwork and our attorneys review and advise to keep costs down and the process moving forward. Learn why the reality of a Do It Yourself divorce in North County or Carlsbad is so difficult, and in the end much more expensive than seeking help from our cost-effective divorce team up front.
Are you tired of the hours and hours of running back and forth to court and the free clinic and all the missed work? Are you looking for a cost-effective solution that will help you to avoid all the hassle and complete your divorce? We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our clients and the legal industry and contact the Certified Family Law Specialists at Burke & Domercq or call 760-389-3927 to schedule an appointment.