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Divorce - Lower Cost Alternatives to an Attorney
from: Howard IkenCopyright 2006 The Divorce Center P.A.
Many years ago hiring a divorce attorney was financially
devastating for many people. Divorce was for the wealthy. The
rest of us had no options. We had to beg, borrow, or steal to
find the money for an attorney. But now there are more options
than ever before for anyone facing a divorce.
Do Everything Yourself
"Doing everything yourself" has become an option in many states
with the advent of approved self-help forms. For example, the
state of Florida has produced a complete set of Family Law
Self-Help forms. These forms have been carefully reviewed by the
state Bar association and subsequently approved by the Florida
Supreme Court. Each form is accompanied by instructions on
proper use. Because Florida Statutes reference those self-help
forms, they are accepted by all Florida courts. Many if not all
states have adopted some type of self-help forms. You can
usually download the forms from your state court website or
purchase an inexpensive pack of forms at your local courthouse.
The advantage: the forms are free and you do not need a lawyer
to file them. The disadvantage: the instructions can be
confusing, complex, and difficult to follow. And you may be
sacrificing some serious legal rights without realizing you are
doing so.
Online Forms Preparation Service
The internet has brought major changes to the delivery of legal
services. One recent change is universal availability of online
forms services. For a fee usually ranging around two hundred
dollars these services will conduct an online interview and
generate a custom set of forms, ready to file with the court in
your area. These services are easy, quick, and as convenient as
the nearest computer. The better services keep track of changes
in each state and adjust their forms accordingly. The advantage:
the forms are accurately and neatly filled out at an affordable
cost. The disadvantage: same as "do-it-yourself - you are on
your own during the divorce. There is no advice or help if
something goes wrong.
Attorney - Forms Only Service
Florida and many other states have adopted a concept called
"Unbundled Services." This concept is an official recognition
that many people want to hire an attorney for one small part of
their case. They have access to expert advice at an affordable
price. Many attorneys offer a form preparation service similar
to the online services. The key difference is the forms are
prepared or supervised by an attorney. The advantage: the
security of knowing the forms are done correctly by a local
expert. The disadvantage: you are still on your own during the
divorce. However, because you established a relationship with an
attorney, you may have access to the attorney for occasional
advice if you run into difficulty.
So Which Option Should You Use?
Divorce can affect your relationship with your children, your
present finances, and your finances during the next 30 years.
What you do now can affect your life for many years. The simple
answer: take the best option you can afford. If you can afford
full representation from an attorney - that is best. If you
cannot afford anything - the do-it-yourself method is best. But
whichever route you take: educate yourself, proceed carefully,
and educate yourself some more. Remember, knowledge is power.
The person with the most knowledge always comes out ahead.
About the author:
Howard Iken is an attorney in the Tampa Florida area. He
practices exclusively in family and divorce law. You can find
out more about his law practice, The Divorce Center P.A. by
logging into his website http://www.18884MyDivorce.com An
explanation of fees for a Florida divorce can be found at
http://www.18884mydivorce.com/pub/Fees/fees.htm
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