The Worst Legal Advice When Separating
Don’t you just love it when you are going through the toughest time of your life and everyone seems to be an expert in your situation?
If you are going through a divorce or separating with your partner, you know what I am talking about.
As soon as the news for your separation is out everyone starts coming at you with advice and experience that, most of the time, has nothing to do with your case.
And that’s all fine, everyone is trying to help.
Advice and support are important throughout the divorce procedures but there is one piece of advice you should never listen to…
The worst legal advice when separating is the one that comes from your spouse’s lawyer.
If you are not divorcing in peace, I am pretty sure you will be getting your own lawyer. When things get ugly, we know how to protect ourselves.
But, if you have a mutual agreement with your soon-to-be-ex, and it seems that the process will be smooth, you might not see the need for two lawyers.
You won’t believe me how many couples consult one single lawyer when they separate.
This is disturbing for two reasons:
– it’s practically illegal because there is conflict of interest
– it is based on your belief that your spouse and their lawyer will show integrity and be fair.
You couldn’t be more wrong.
Divorce is where everyone shows their ugliest self. Even if your spouse is the kindest, most caring and nicest person, it is the lawyer’s job to get the best out of the divorce for them.
You can’t trust the advice of someone that is your counterpart.
Many times the spouse that manages to get a lawyer first will forward you their words or advice. You should never do something or take a decision because your spouse’s lawyer said so. This decision will always benefit your spouse more than it will benefit you.
This includes signing documents just because your spouse has signed them before reading through or having a lawyer look at them. It also concerns agreeing to terms without reviewing and requesting all the information to be confirmed by your lawyer.
Divorce is painful. Until now you might have been a team that was looking out for each other but from now on you are just the two sides of a resolution case. Don’t expect your spouse to act in your best interest.
His or her lawyer will definitely protect their clients’ interest.
And who will protect yours?
Get a family lawyer as soon as you take the separation decision to make sure you are not drawing the short straw.
Katherine Hawes is an experienced family lawyer and founder of New Age Legal Solutions and is on a mission to prove that legal advice and help can be affordable and accessible to everyone. Get one of our flat fee legal packages and make sure you follow the advice that will benefit you when separating.