Hazards and Pitfalls of Do-It-yourself Divorce in Los Angeles

It may seem like the quickest, simplest, and cheapest alternative: go online or get some forms from the office supply store and write up your own divorce. After all, in California, divorce is no-fault, so you simply have to assert that your marriage is irretrievably broken. Is there a reason to spend the money for a lawyer?

As Southern California family law attorneys with twenty years of experience, we have seen the hazards of do-it-yourself divorce. Marriage is a powerful legal institution, and the dissolution of marriage must be handled carefully in order to ensure that the parties to the divorce actually get what they think they are getting—a fair and permanent settlement.

In fact, our Los Angeles divorce attorneys have had to repair damage from attempted "economy" divorces when clients came to us facing threats posed by simple errors:

• A check in the wrong box
• A single poorly chosen word concerning the marital home
• A failure to file a required document

In some cases it turned out the couple, years after signing a divorce agreement, was never divorced at all!

If you have a good working relationship with your spouse, you may be surprised at how economical it is to have an experienced lawyer review your agreement with your spouse, ensure proper filings are made, and provide the protection you and your children need as you begin to rebuild your life.

Whatever stage you are at in your divorce: considering a legal separation, negotiating a custody agreement, or preparing to file for divorce, contact our Los Angeles County law firm and make arrangements for a free consultation. You will speak with a divorce lawyer, not just an assistant or a paralegal. From our Beverly Hills office, our attorneys serve clients throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Santa Ana.