When people get married, their hope is that they will live happily ever after. Sadly, that is not always the case. A divorce is the only legal way to end one chapter so the couple can begin another. No matter how the decision to divorce is reached, hiring a divorce lawyer to guide you through the process and make sure you are protected is the smartest way to end your marriage. Going through a do it yourself divorce may seem like a smart way to save money, but more often than not, it costs people big in the long run.

Even in cases where the divorce is agreed upon and both parties want to remain friendly, the divorce process can bring out the worst in people. Division of assets, child custody and other issues can turn a once loving couple against each other and without the help of a divorce lawyer, you can lose out on what is rightfully yours. Without a lawyer, you can end up with a binding agreement that does not equally distribute your assets and debts, or worse yet, outlines an agreement you did not intend to make.

In cases where the divorce is contentious, a lawyer is definitely needed in order to protect you and to serve as a buffer between the two of you. Dealing with your soon to be ex-spouse can mean dealing with someone who knows how to push every single one of your buttons. These arguments can hold up the divorce process and cause you unnecessary stress each time you have to deal with each other. When you have a divorce lawyer, you can direct that all communication with your soon to be ex is done through your lawyer and save yourself the hassle and stress of a bitter battle each time a decision needs to be made in the proceedings.

Divorce is hard. Don’t make it harder by taking it on by yourself. Hire an experienced divorce lawyer and get the support, expertise and experience you need so you can move forward and start the next chapter of your life as soon as possible.