Should I Represent Myself in My Divorce? 

 Posted on December 30, 2024 in Divorce

Although the oldest profession in the world probably does not bear discussion in polite company, the second-oldest profession is almost certainly the attorneys who kept the workers and the clients of the first oldest profession out of trouble. Because attorneys have such a long and storied reputation, many people are understandably suspicious of them and prefer to avoid using them when possible, even if it means foregoing the benefits of a lawyer and representing themselves. 

One of the most common areas of law that people try to represent themselves in is divorce and other areas of family law. While there is certainly no requirement to have an attorney representing you during your divorce, depending on your circumstances, not having an attorney at least review your case could be a very bad idea. 

We are not just saying that because we are a law firm – most attorneys even know better than to represent themselves because the data shows people who retain experienced attorneys tend to get better outcomes from their divorce. To learn more about how our experienced Illinois divorce lawyer can help you, call us today.

What Does an Attorney Do in a Divorce?

Understand the Law and Know Local Judges

The job of an attorney representing someone getting divorced in Illinois is multifaceted and complex. First and foremost, however, it starts with knowing the law – not only through the process of getting a formal degree, but, perhaps more importantly, through an accumulation of many years of experience and ongoing training about changes in the law and trends in case results. 

An attorney who knows Illinois divorce law and the local judges who hear cases in the area will have a solid sense of someone’s options in a divorce. Would you be better off trying to settle, or trying to litigate a complex financial matter in court? The answer to that and other difficult questions will depend in large part on the law and the judge overseeing your case. 

Detect and Dig Up Missing Information

Just as attorneys sometimes have an imperfect record of behavior, people getting divorced are not always known for their honesty and forthrightness. Your spouse could be hiding assets, lying about his or her income, or otherwise trying to get the upper hand in a divorce decree and you might not even know it. 

A divorce attorney with experience handling many cases over many years can see signs that something is amiss and will know the best way to get missing information so that you get what you need to negotiate a fair outcome. 

Negotiate on Your Behalf

Even couples with the best intentions are sometimes surprised by how contentious divorce negotiations can become. You may have thought you knew what your spouse wanted, only to be surprised by demands stemming from years of resentment that you did not even know existed.

A divorce attorney, however, will not be surprised by this and will be able to advocate on your behalf – fiercely and in court, if necessary – to make sure you get a fair resolution in your divorce decree. 

Manage Paperwork and Deadlines

Although divorce is, on the surface, the resolution of a difficult dispute between a married couple, at its heart it is a bureaucratic process with complex rules, deadlines, and paperwork requirements. Smart people are often able to figure out what is expected of them from divorce courts, but even for the most paper-savvy, filing requirements, fees, and forms can be really hard to figure out. 

An attorney takes care of all of this for you so you do not have to worry about the logistics. Instead, you can focus on yourself, your kids, and how to move on to the next stage of your life once the divorce is finalized. 

Call a DuPage County, IL Divorce Lawyer

At Calabrese Associates, P.C., we have a long track record of advocating for our clients and helping them resolve even the most complicated problems in divorce. You can get the help you need for a reasonable price by calling 630-393-3111 today and scheduling an initial meeting with our Naperville, IL family lawyer.