Do You Need To Hire A Lawyer To Get Divorced In Maine?

Do You Need To Hire A Lawyer To Get Divorced In Maine?

No.

Should you hire a lawyer to get divorced in Maine?

Ah, that’s a different question.  If you’ve only been married a short time (1–2 years), and you have no children, no real estate and no significant assets or debts, and you both agree on the terms of your divorce, you can probably get divorced without hiring an attorney. 

When should you hire a lawyer for a divorce in Maine?

I always advise hiring a lawyer in these circumstances:

• Your spouse has hired an attorney; or
• You can’t agree on all the terms of your divorce; or
• You have a long-term marriage (10 years or longer); or
• You have minor children; or
• You jointly own real estate; or
• You jointly own other significant assets or debts.

Getting divorced is one of the most difficult emotional and financial situations you’ll ever face in your life.  It will profoundly affect your life — probably for a significant period of time; perhaps, even, for as long as you live.

There’s an old saying that “a person who acts as his own lawyer has a fool for a client.”

Be smart and hire a lawyer when one is needed.  I know it can be expensive and you’re often hiring someone when you can least afford it.  Believe me — if you do it yourself and it doesn’t get done correctly, the cost of hiring an attorney later to fix it — if it can be “fixed” at all — will be far, far more expensive.

It’s like most things in life.  Do it right the first time and save yourself the hassle, fees and stress of trying to do it over again later.

Comments

[Michael Young, Esq.]

Too often one sees a spouse who has let the other spouse retain an attorney to handle divorce and custody issues 'for the both of them.' The argument given usually involves saving time or money. The spouse without an attorney gets taken to the cleaners and wonders how it could have happened. There are instances, as described in this post, where attorneys are not needed. However, if one spouse retains an attorney, the other should do so immediately to protect legal rights. Your spouse's attorney represents your spouse - not you.

[leolabeth]

In my uhappy experience, ultimately hiring a lawyer was a bad idea. Because mine apparently did not really understand the ramifications of domestic violence or protection orders, nor did she explain them to me, I was able to make some terrible mistaken decisions that an advocate from a battered women's organization never would have let me make.

I hired an attorney because I thought I would be better protected than by an advocate or pro bono attorney, but it made the playing field appear even, despite the fact that I'd been under my husband's thumb physically, mentally and financially for too long.

[john beck]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention - I’ve reviewed it myself now. A very enjoyable read