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Practice Areas

• Divorce and Separation
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Restraining Orders
• Adoption
• GLBT Partners & Parents
• Marital Agreements

Divorce Booklet

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Do I Need An Attorney?

Yes. Do-it-yourself divorce can be dangerous. Child custody is not a home improvement project. Marriage has a very important legal meaning and the outcome of a dissolution (divorce) can have serious and sometimes unforeseen consequences later in life. The same truths apply to child custody proceedings.

Pro Se (unrepresented) parties are held to the same standard as attorneys. That means people who represent themselves are not allowed special treatment from the court, and are expected to know the applicable law and how it applies. Those who choose to represent themselves in hopes of saving money will be bound by any mistakes they make along the way, and may pay significantly more later for an attorney to try to fix things. It could be something as simple as checking the wrong box on a form that can cause a pro se party to lose credibility with the court, have their request denied, and even cause them to pay the opposing attorney's fees.

On the other hand, a competent attorney will help you identify and leverage strengths and vulnerabilities in a case that others may never notice. Attorneys are specially trained to identify and successfully apply novel legal arguments, and to warn you of risks in a case and help you avoid unnecessary mistakes. A good family law attorney will also help keep you grounded in reality as emotions run high, help you see your case as a judge will see it, and help you maintain a long-term view as you make decisions that will affect your life years from now.

In most family law matters you will have one chance to get things right, and pro se parties are simply far more likely than attorneys to get things wrong. The expense of quality representation is justified by the importance of what is at stake. Get things right the first time by hiring a professional. Call (720) 201-3802 to speak with an attorney about your best legal strategies or submit a legal question directly to an attorney by clicking here.