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Home / Blog / DIY Divorce Can Be Disastrous

DIY Divorce Can Be Disastrous

There has been a significant rise in the number of people attempting to go it their own with the divorce process. Generally people make this decision with the hope of saving a significant amount of money on legal fees. However, there are also some major drawbacks to working without an attorney or mediator in the process that could limit or even eliminate those savings and cause more headaches than you’d have otherwise experienced.

Here are a few issues to consider.

  • You do not get any advocacy: When you do not work with an attorney, you do not have anyone who can review your settlement agreements to make sure you are getting what you are entitled to. It becomes much easier to be taken advantage of if there are no legal experts analyzing your agreement and making sure it is equitable and fair.
  • You are more likely to make mistakes: Beyond the actual decisions you make in the negotiation process, you are also more likely to experience mistakes with filing or other procedural matters that could damage your case and result in extra expenses. Working with an attorney ensures the process goes as smoothly as possible.
  • It may take longer: There are some circumstances in which a DIY divorce could potentially save you time. But if you and your spouse are not on speaking terms or your spouse is unwilling to play fair, it will take you far longer to get through the process than if you had an attorney working with you who could compel your spouse to play along and take the necessary actions.

These are just a few examples of some of the reasons why you should avoid the temptation to do a DIY divorce and instead work with an attorney. For more information about the divorce process, contact an experienced Minnesota divorce lawyer at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.

By Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. | Published August 22, 2022 | Posted in Divorce | Tagged divorce, DIY Divorce, drawbacks

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  • "Tori had a thorough understanding of my situation and made excellent recommendations to resolve my concerns. She was persistent on communication and handled everything in a very timely manner. I would definitely hire her again in the future if needed." - M.K.

  • "With Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A., it is like having a family physician. They are all knowledgeable, thorough, comforting, and the only call I need to make for all my legal needs for many years to come. No matter what the matter, I totally trust their advice and commitment to me and my family." - J.N.

  • "Mary from APH Law helped me thru a difficult divorce. She and the entire staff was there for me every step of the way helping me on what to do next. They listened to what I wanted and helped me achieve what matter the most to me in the divorce settlement." - Dana C.

  • "I chose APH after my initial consultation with Mary. I felt my best interest would be represented. The entire process went excellent, the attorneys and staff communicated effectively and efficiently with me throughout the process as they needed to. Being new to the legal process and verbiage, they walked me and talked me through the next steps and the jargon, I felt completely comfortable and represented. I hope I never have to use legal services again but if I do I will call Mary at APH Law and know that I will be taken care of." - Jeff M.

  • "Divorce is a time of emotion and stress. Mary Pfeifer , My lawyer was professional and compassionate. She was very informative through the process. Her insight helped me in my decisions. She worked hard to obtain a settlement which was fair to both parties. Though, I hope I won't need her help again. It is reassuring to know a good person that is willing to help." - Rod S.

  • "I first came to Ms. Jacquelyn Lutz of Appelhof, Pfeifer and Hart in October of 2016. It was definitely the worst time in my life and she compassionately spoke with me about my options. Ms. Lutz thoroughly explained the laws, statutes, process and what to expect going forward. What was supposed to be one case, turned into three intricate cases that took a huge toll on me and my family. Ms. Lutz represented me in court on all three cases with a vast knowledge of the laws and how to proceed accordingly. During all three cases she kept me informed, calm, gave me resources to utilize, and (most important) gave me a realistic view of what may come next. Ms. Lutz knew each case required a great deal of knowledge and creative thinking on how to legally proceed forward with each case. My family and friends are forever grateful for the amazing representation by Ms. Lutz. I highly recommend Ms. Lutz for anyone needing or considering superb representation for any kind of family law. " - M.H.

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