Divorce Is Not a Do-It-Yourself Project
You are not required to hire a lawyer to get divorced in Arizona, but we recommend retaining an experienced attorney to avoid the many pitfalls of the "do-it-yourself divorce".
At The Law Offices of Wendy Raquel Hernandez, P.C., we understand that no one wants to pay more than they need to for a divorce. That is why we always keep the bottom line in mind when counseling our clients. We work to achieve your goals as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.
Free divorce forms are available online. However, we recognize that filing for divorce is more than just filling out forms. Individuals who try the "do-it-yourself" approach to divorce or hire a paralegal often make mistakes that cost more to fix than an attorney would have charged to do the job correctly the first time.
Unintended Consequences
Divorce law is complex. If you don't know what you are doing, the "do-it-yourself" approach to divorce can create significant new problems for yourself and your family.
A divorced father wanted clarification from the court about one narrow issue: parenting time during the holidays. He accidentally filed the wrong form, a "petition to modify child custody". By doing so, he gave his ex-wife the opportunity to change their court-ordered custody and visitation arrangement. She pursued full custody of the children. That is when the do-it-yourself dad came to us for help. We could have resolved his original issue much less expensively had he contacted us first.
Common Pitfalls
People who do not have legal training and experience do not realize the importance of how to frame a question correctly or which approach may be in their long-term best interest. They may not be aware of the deadlines and court procedures that must be followed.
Paralegals and document preparers cannot, by law, give you legal advice. Only an attorney can analyze the facts of your case and advise you on which legal option is most appropriate for your specific situation.
Don't do-it-yourself without first speaking to a divorce lawyer. If you truly do not need an attorney to achieve your goal, we will tell you so. To arrange a consultation with attorney Wendy Raquel Hernandez, please contact our office in Phoenix.
