Divorce Question

[TarPanther9180]

So, it is finally the time I can file my divorce and I want to do this on my own (ex and I are civil with each other and want to keep attorneys out of it).

Has anyone on here went through a divorce, filled them forms out themselves, have advice, etc.?

[Jackofalltrades]

My ex and I just paid an attorney and we handled the settlement, quick, easy and cheap.

[g5jamz]

As long as you've established who's getting what...shouldn't be that hard.

No kids involved?

[TarPanther9180]

We have a son

JOAT, how much was it? I found a website that has form examples to fill out but they don't guarantee they are what my county would need. So I'm wondering if going to a lawyer just to draw up paperwork and handling the uncontested divorce is the best route to go?

[Jackofalltrades]

Ours was through Stanly Co, but we were married in TN.

I want to say 150ish, it was an attorney in Charlotte that did it. Ours was uncontested and we didn't wait for a year of separation either.

If you need me to I'll see if I can find out who we used, my ex handled it all. I just got a package of stuff in the mail and sent it back.

[Hawk]

chances are, you'll end up needing a lawyer at some point in time, especially with a child involved. We thought we were going to do ours ourself too and then her friends got involved and told her she could get...MORE...so she screwed me over and went to a lawyer. In the end, we both lost, I paid crazy legal fees and because of it, I wouldn't just settle for getting screwed over so I fought hard. She lost because rightfully so, I got custody and stopped making payments to her immediately!

[PanthaSan]

Not sure about your state but you can get a parralegal to write things up as long as you both are in agreement. The if you have to go to mediation and agree, they fill out the forms for the judge to see and it is pretty much rubber stamped and done.

Also, check if your county has a family law facilitator, they walk you through the paperwork and pretty much have everything ready for the court.

I did my own paperwork on my last one and got away pretty good. Custody and all of my stuff. Took it in the shorts on one of my retirement accounts, lost half.

[cookinwithgas]

You could do it yourself but I found a no fault divorce lawyer that did it for a few hundred bucks. Well worth it. All they do is have you sign the standard papers, they file in court, then send you the decree.

[TarPanther9180]

Thanks guys...yeah the more I read into, I think the $300 or so will be worth it. I don't have time to be going by the clerk of court filing all this paperwork...plus I'm lazy.

[Panthers_Lover]

the court is going to have to be happy with the settlement, esp. where the children are involved. this is one time you need to spend some money and have the assistance of an attorney. my ex and i pretty much did our own, then had an attorney iron out the snags; he was my attorney, so he insisted that my husband have someone check it over on his behalf, but basically, we used the same lawyer. the court was happy with the settlement, again more concerned with the kids than anything.

[DC Amp]

The lawyer will only be able to represent one of the parties, either you or your wife, I paid half and let him rep her. I wasn't needed in court and received the finals in the mail.

[Skew]

chances are, you'll end up needing a lawyer at some point in time, especially with a child involved. We thought we were going to do ours ourself too and then her friends got involved and told her she could get...MORE...so she screwed me over and went to a lawyer. In the end, we both lost, I paid crazy legal fees and because of it, I wouldn't just settle for getting screwed over so I fought hard. She lost because rightfully so, I got custody and stopped making payments to her immediately!

This^^

My ex and I started out being "civil" until her mother tried to tell her what "fair" was.

My advice: keep an attorney on speed dial.

[cookinwithgas]

Of course I am assuming you are telling us the reality of the situation. My daughter was 17 and custody was not an issue, our property had already been settled. If you have an agreement on who has any property, you can put in a release of claim at court for the person who is not involved with the property anymore.

[TarPanther9180]

Property\debt has already been settled. My son is 10 and we have joint custody (week with me, then a week with her). I don't have to worry about people getting in her head because she doesn't have a leg to stand on to "get" me in court. If anything, I could burn her, get full custody of our son, and all of the property (and she knows this). However, I am not a spiteful person, she is a great mom, and I feel we are both equally needed in raising our son, just not together.