Canuck81 Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 My state has no fault divorce. My wife is meeting with a lawyer to start the process. Do I need to get my own lawyer or do we need to share the same one if we're trying to keep this a no-fault paperwork type affair. I think we can come to a financial agreement on our own.
ADF Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 My state has no fault divorce. My wife is meeting with a lawyer to start the process. Do I need to get my own lawyer or do we need to share the same one if we're trying to keep this a no-fault paperwork type affair. I think we can come to a financial agreement on our own. Never have the same lawyer represent both sides in a divorce proceeding. Yes, I know it's done all the time. But often, couples who foresee no points of contention end up finding some after all. It creates a HUGE mess. I am a paralegal and have seen it happen again and again.
1Angel Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 No sharing the same lawyer could be considered conflict of interest. You can both go no lawyers and do it yourself simpler in some states if you both agree to things, and no real estate or custody issues.
Author Canuck81 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Posted November 18, 2009 Do you not need a lawyer to help mediate and do the paperwork?
Shockedhusband Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 My wife and I did our divorce with one lawyer, we were able to work out all the financial and property division on our own. Be warned though if your wife hires the lawyer the lawyer will be representing her not you and con not give you any legal advice. In my case it was a short term marriage with no kids so we basically just split everything down the middle.
flc Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 Depends completely on how fair you think your wife will be. You don't need a lawyer but her lawyer represents her and will only work to get her the best settlement, he/she will do as your wife wishes. If you two can agree on everything the paperwork is not that hard to read and follow you can make sure your interested are presented fairly and just go with her lawyer. However, if there is disagreement then you need a lawyer to represent your side. In my divorce we just used her lawyer to file the papers and we sat down and wrote and agreed to the settlement.
Ronni_W Posted November 18, 2009 Posted November 18, 2009 Do you not need a lawyer to help mediate and do the paperwork? I'm in Canada but. I hired the lawyer. Think ex had to sign something that he'd been given the opportunity to have the papers reviewed by "independent counsel"...might also have had to declare if he had or hadn't done that. He hadn't, in any case. We didn't have any issues that needed mediating, either. If it's not all complex, convoluted and contentious, save the money and just use the one (we split the bill, though.)
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