There are plenty of guidebooks for would-be do-it-yourselfers under the title of “X for Dummies.” The arena of family and divorce law is no exception. Just as you can draft your own will, make your own kimchi, remodel your own home, and cure your own arthritis, there are plenty of ways for the pro se divorce defendant to learn nearly everything there is to know about how to take depositions, argue before a judge, obtain accurate financial information, draft an answer to a divorce suit, and generally get the better of your monied spouse by simply visiting the local public library and/or searching YouTube for videos and vblogs by popular divorce coaches, divorce mediators, divorce attorneys, and happily divorced people from your state.
There are people who like to think they can do just about everything for themselves, but most people sensibly prefer to seek professional advice when entering the uncharted waters of the family court system.
The well-known saying “He who represents himself has a fool for a client” rings true in the procedurally complicated and emotionally fraught arena of family and divorce court. If you’re like most of us, you recognize there are times when having an experienced professional on your side makes the difference between a positive and negative outcome. Most parties retain a lawyer or hire a mediator, and then do everything possible to educate oneself about how the system works, and how you can make it work to your advantage, or at least not to your detriment.
Reading a basic guide to divorce law is a very good idea once you realize that your marriage is headed for the rocks.If you live in Fairfield County (Bridgeport, Milford, Waterbury, Westport, Danbury, Stamford), a great way to start your education on the process is to pick up a copy of the MCLE book “A Practical Guide to Divorce in Connecticut,” where Attorney Carmina Hirsch is a featured author, which can help you get up to speed quickly on some of the key issues you will face as the divorce process unfolds.
At Hirsch Legal LLC, we find working with a client who knows the basics about “the rules of the road” in a divorce proceeding is an ideal situation. A lawyer can provide the best advice in the world, but if the client doesn’t have the ability to make informed decisions based on a solid understanding of the risks and opportunities implicated in a situation, there may be much wasted effort, with eventual sub-optimal results.
A divorce trial is often a high-stakes battle for the future of your life. All your most prized possessions are potentially at risk, as are your future financial prospects, and your enjoyment of your children. If there is a large estate at stake, your spouse will do his or her utmost to get the largest possible piece of it, using highly-sophisticated tactics that may not seem fair or even above-board. You may have to contend with duplicity in the form of lying witnesses, fake documents, improper surveillance and much more. Having a lawyer on your side who you can call upon to even the playing fieldbased on a long career of fighting similar battles is an incomparable advantage. Acquiring the skills to capably assist your legal advisor in carrying out a winning legal battle plan can pay off handsomely.
If you live in New Haven or Fairfield County, our office in Shelton is within easy reach. We are ready and willing to fight for you. Give us a call today!