In the Pennsylvania legal system, people have the right to represent themselves in criminal and civil cases, but that does not mean they should. You've probably heard about criminal defendants firing their public defenders or private criminal defense attorneys and representing themselves, and as we all know, that never ends well. Is divorce any different?
From a legal standpoint you are entitled to represent yourself – this is called "pro se," which means "on your own behalf" in Latin, but the practicality of this is highly questionable. If you ask any divorce lawyer, they will say that representing yourself is not a good idea, especially if you're not an experienced family law attorney.
Would you perform your own dental extraction or heart surgery? Certainly not, and you don't want to handle your own divorce either. What you would save initially in legal fees would most likely end up costing you dearly in the long-run.
Even in the friendliest, no-fault divorces, there are legal and financial matters that require legal expertise, such as:
- Taxes
- Child custody
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Property and debt division
- Pensions
- Retirement accounts
- Life and health insurance
- What to do with the marital residence
- What to do with a business
When you file for divorce in Pennsylvania, it's important that you understand your rights and responsibilities in regards to the topics listed above. If you do not handle one or more of these issues correctly, you could be giving up important rights without knowing it, and it's just not worth taking the risk.
Mutual Consent Divorce in Pennsylvania
Let's take a look at mutual consent vs. no-consent divorces: Pennsylvania does not operate like many other states, such as California, where you can get a divorce in about six months as long as one of you wants out.
Instead, if a spouse does not want a divorce in Pennsylvania, you have to live separately and apart for at least two full years before the state can grant you a divorce. It's essentially delaying the inevitable, but until the laws change that's the way it is.
Most divorce lawyers will attest that the majority of unhappy spouses do not want to wait two years to get divorced. Therefore, it's considerably more favorable to seek a mutual consent, no-fault divorce. When our clients agree to a no-fault divorce, we can help them obtain a divorce in as little as 30 days, which is one of the shortest waiting periods for a divorce in the nation.
Quality Divorce Services Don't Have to Break the Bank
When you file for divorce, it's critical to have an experienced divorce lawyer representing you and looking out for your best interests. If you've been afraid to file for divorce because of the legal fees, you don't have to fret any longer.
At Cairns Law Offices, you can receive quality divorce representation at a fraction of the cost of other divorce law firms. As long as you and your spouse agree to a mutual consent, no-fault divorce, we can help you achieve a quick, affordable divorce in as little as 30 days. If you're ready to get started, contact us today!
