A divorce may be one of the most challenging experiences a person goes through. Every area of your life is affected by ending a marriage, including your relationships with loved ones. You may not know how to react or what choices you have now that you are no longer married.

The first thing you should do after filing for divorce is to find an experienced family law attorney to help you understand your options and guide you through the legal process.

You Need An Attorney To Help You With The Details

It’s important to note that divorces can drag on for months, even years, if it becomes contentious. A contested divorce means negotiations over child custody, visitation rights, financial support, and asset division might need to go before a judge who will make decisions for you.

A family law attorney can help you negotiate an amicable resolution to your divorce or guide you through the contested process if needed. This may allow for a faster divorce, which is better for everyone involved.

You Need An Attorney To Protect Your Rights

A lawyer will ensure that the courts uphold all agreements made between parties in your case. The court system can be confusing, and it’s important that someone with experience ensures that both parties receive what they deserve based on their agreement. Without legal guidance, there’s nothing stopping another party from reneging on their end of the deal after signing it.

Another reason why you need an attorney is so he or she can review any legal documents you sign. If something doesn’t sound right or you don’t understand it, an attorney can help protect your rights.

An attorney will also be available to consult with you throughout the process, so you know what’s happening every step of the way.

You Need An Attorney To Protect Your Relationship With Your Children

During a divorce, one of the most important jobs of legal counsel is protecting your relationship with your children. While parents are generally allowed to schedule their own visitation time without oversight from a judge, some divorce lawyers recommend occasional check-ins with a third party to make sure all parties are complying with custody agreements. Generally, however, this isn’t necessary if both parents are amicable and have relatively similar schedules for visitation involving shared parenting time arrangements.

It’s important to have an attorney represent you in court during hearings so that the judge sees you’re serious about custody and visitation. Judges tend to rule more favorably for parents who have legal representation.

You Need An Attorney To Help You Settle Financially

Divorce is expensive, even without going to court. If there are disagreements about money, such as who pays which bills or how much child support should be paid, these arguments can get even more heated.

An experienced family law attorney can help you negotiate a financial settlement that’s fair for both parties. This may include working out a payment plan, so neither party is overwhelmed with debt after the divorce is finalized.