If You Started a DIY Divorce, It’s Not Too Late to Get a Lawyer

Lured by websites pitching do-it-yourself divorces, many people initiate the DIY process only to discover that the legal system is more complex than they realized or that their spouse intends to contest important issues.

If you started down the DIY divorce path, it is not too late to seek legal assistance. As experienced Long Island divorce lawyers, we have many times been called in the middle of an ongoing case after the person who filed it ran into problems getting their case past various roadblocks. Perhaps you’re facing challenges such as:

• Not knowing how to introduce evidence into court
• Lacking knowledge of New York’s family laws
• Thinking the entire case could be resolved without going to court but then learning a hearing has been scheduled
• Finding out that your spouse, who initially agreed not to hire their own lawyer, has changed their mind and hired one
• Having trouble getting correct legal documents from online divorce services or document preparers.
• Encountering some unexpected issue related to work or child rearing that leaves you without enough time to work on the divorce.

In such a situation, we strongly recommend that you seek counsel, because we’ve seen the stress and poor outcomes people suffer when they go unrepresented in court. It’s also important that you spend some time doing research so you can avoid hiring the wrong attorney. Even though your divorce is already started, try not to rush your choice, but also don’t take so long to find a lawyer that you end up missing court appearances or deadlines.

We recommend looking for lawyers with significant experience, and most of all, make sure the firm is local and practices in the courts in your area. Local lawyers who appear frequently in court usually have a rapport with judges and can convey a sense of legitimacy to your case.

Even if you started a divorce on your own, it’s not too late to ask for backup. At Bryan L. Salamone & Associates, P.C. in Melville, our family law attorneys will meet with you, assess your case and explain what we can do to help. To get started, call 1.631.479.3839 or contact us online to arrange a free consultation. We handle family law issues in Suffolk County, Nassau County and throughout Long Island.