EXPERT: DIY DIVORCE CAN MEAN LONG-LASTING REGRETS

Many people prefer a home-cooked meal to the best fare offered by good Fort Worth restaurants. Many likewise prefer to save money by fixing their own cars or doing home repairs themselves. But as anyone who has ventured into the DIY (do it yourself) world can tell you: if you don’t know what you’re doing, you can cause more harm than good and often wind up spending a lot more than a lot less by doing it yourself.

A financial planning expert who works with family law attorneys recently said the DIY principles are in effect with divorces, too. If you don’tknow the law, haven’t previously navigated the court system and if you don’t understand legal terminology, you probably shouldn’t try to save money by doing your divorce yourself, she said.

It’s understandable why some people would in tough times try to save money by avoiding lawyers, mechanics, doctors, plumbers and other professionals. But the reality of the legal system is much like the reality of the human body, a car engine and even the water pipes in your home: it’s a lot more complicated than it might appear at first glance.

The difference between trying to fix a leaky faucet and trying to figure out an equitable divorce agreement is that mistakes in a divorce can have a negative impact that can last for years.

“There aren’t many things in life more final than final orders in a divorce,” the financial planner noted. “It’s a process that’s worth doing right.”

Categories:
Family Law