FAQs? Checklist?

domo_roboto · 2023-12-15T23:22:06+00:00

Nothing dictates that you must get a lawyer. If you don't, it's considered 'pro se' which you represent yourself. It all depends on your risk tolerance and how much researching and work you want to do. If the divorce is contentious and it goes into litigation, you could be going against a pro who can probably screw you over on technicalities if your ex retains a good lawyer. In terms of fees, there's a retainer fee and how much they bill per hour. If you use $20k in your example, you'd pay that upfront and the lawyer bills you hourly as well as the fees to file and mail stuff. Once that $20k is used up, you start getting invoices to pay the hourly.
Yes, why wouldn't one try the diplomatic route of mediation before escalating if that's a possibility? The more it escalates, the more costly (money and emotionally) it gets. Of course if the reason for the divorce was bad, it might be beyond the point of mediation. For the mediator, both sides can agree that the money paid to the mediator comes from community property, so that the mediators fee is effectively split 50:50. Even if you use a mediator, they will recommend that each side also retains a lawyer to proofread the final negotiated separation or settlement agreement. That lawyer is paid by each party respectively.

Old-Macaroon8148 · 2023-12-16T00:37:44+00:00

You don’t have to use a lawyer, there are plenty of people that don’t. It really depends on if your STBX is going to be reasonable (or if you will).

If your stbx is perfectly fine with 50/50 custody if you have kids and a 50/50 split of assets then you may be able to skip most of the legal fees. Unfortunately for many of us it starts this way and then quickly changes.

Things like real estate and kids tend to complicate things quite a bit. If you rent and don’t have kids if both parties are reasonable then you may be able to do it without lawyers.

Title	FAQs? Checklist?
Author	Cross_22
Upvotes	9
Comments	2
Date	December 15, 2023 10:55 PM UTC (2 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/Divorce_Men
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/Divorce_Men/comments/18jcpf5/faqs_checklist/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/Divorce_Men/faqs-checklist.1240866 https://theredarchive.com/post/1240866

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