What are the dangers of filing for divorce without an attorney?
A new web app called “It’s Over Easy” was recently launched with a goal of making divorce simpler and less expensive. Launched by a celebrity divorce attorney who handled divorces for mega stars like Britney Spears, “It’s Over Easy” will ask you several questions in order to generate divorce papers. The paperwork can then be filed by you in your local divorce court or the app can file for you. While this new app could save you money in the short term, many divorce filers could find themselves losing out significantly in the long run because they are filing without a full understanding of their legal rights.
Do-It-Yourself Divorces
The “It’s Over Easy” app is just the latest in new technologies that purport to allow you to file for divorce without the help of a lawyer. The app is aimed at couples that can reach an agreement on central divorce issues, like property division, alimony, and child custody. The basic plan costs $750 and the premium plan will run upwards of $2,500. While the web app may be less expensive than an attorney, depending on the extent of your legal needs, it could cost you far more overtime.
Even couples that can still communicate will benefit from the assistance of a divorce lawyer. A divorce attorney performs the vital task of reviewing the facts of your case and offering an in-depth understanding of your legal rights under your state’s specific laws. Armed with knowledge as to what you are legally entitled, you can then approach divorce mediation with appropriate goals.
Divorce mediation allows divorcing couples to come to an agreement as to the terms of a divorce with the help of a licensed divorce lawyer. Your divorce attorney will ensure you do not sell yourself short, which can so easily happen to couples divorcing on their own. Your divorce lawyer will confirm that every possibility to your divorce will be explored. If negotiations come to an impasse, your divorce lawyer will help you to navigate the complex realm of contested divorces in order to achieve your best possible divorce outcome. For these reasons, the individualized and experienced assistance of a divorce lawyer can simply not be matched by a computer program.
