Legal Aid for Divorce
How to Find Legal Aid for Divorce
Here’s the thing about divorce: it’s surprisingly easy to get one. These days, any couple can even get a divorce filed online if they wanted to! There’s just one catch with that, though –
Both spouses have to agree with it. That’s the catch.
So here’s the question….
What Happens When One Spouse Doesn’t Agree?
Here’s where divorces get complicated. These are the common steps through any regular divorce petition without any contest:
1. One Spouse (Petitioner or Plaintiff) Must File a Petition
2. The Other Spouse (Respondent or Defendant) Will Receive a Copy of the Petition to Sign
3. The Respondent Will Then Sign It
4. The Respondent Will Then File a Formal “Response” to the Petition, Stating Complete Agreement
5. Petition Goes in, Waiting Period Begins
6. And Then, Finally, Even Without a Court Date, the Family Court Simply Awards a Judgment for Divorce
When I said it’s a piece of cake to get a divorce, I meant it. It’s a piece of cake.
But on list number 4, if the Respondent files a “response” to disagree, everything changes. Big time.
You can forget about list number 5 and 6. The petition will definitely arrive in a courtroom for deliberation, because now there’s a “contest” on the petition. It’ll basically be the Petitioner or Plaintiff versus the Respondent or Defendant.
This Is Where Legal Aid for Divorce Comes In
Don’t fool yourself. Whether you’re the Petitioner or the Respondent, if there’s a contest on the petition for divorce, you’re going to want legal aid for divorce pronto. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
But how does one get legal aid for divorce? Simple. Just follow these steps….
1. Do the Research
2. Get a Shortlist of Lawyers Ready
3. Meet With Each of Them to Discuss Your Case
4. Then Hire the Right Attorney
In a dispute for divorce, you’re going to want legal aid for divorce for obvious reasons:
1. It Can Get Stressful
2. Representation Can Increase Your Chances of Success
3. (This One’s Probably the Most Important) ….A Lawyer Knows What He or She Is Doing
Legal aid for divorce is simply that: it’s aid. It helps you out. When dealing with a divorce, you’re going to want all the help you can get.
All the Steps in Detail
First off: the research.
Obviously, you want to be smart about the decision to hire a lawyer. So do the research. Look in the phone book. Go online. Ask friends and family.
The more research the better.
Secondly, if you get a “shortlist” ready, you’ll have some choices available. Typically, a good shortlist is five or six lawyers working in the county. Meet with each of them personally to get an idea of how they work and how much they cost, and then from there hire the attorney. Without hesitation.
Representation is crucial, because there’s nothing more stressful than trying to fight for your marriage in the courtroom. Especially when you basically can’t ‘argue’ with your spouse over it. In a courtroom, there’s no ‘arguing’ with the opposition.
That’s what a lawyer is for. Furthermore, because a lawyer knows the ins and outs of the law, your chances of winning in favor of or against the petition are better.
That’s How You Obtain Legal Aid
It’s there for a reason. So take advantage of it. Never go in it alone.
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