Dealing with divorce is a messy and emotional situation, and it can be even harder to get through the uncomfortably new territory without professional help.
If you plan to represent yourself in court, hiring a legal case coach to offer feedback and guidance on your court documents and overall case can help you obtain the best possible outcome for your DIY divorce.
Can I negotiate the terms of a divorce without legal help?
Technically, it is possible to negotiate the terms of your uncontested divorce without legal help if you and your spouse are completely on the same page about what you want for your family, assets, and outcome. Keep in mind, however, that it’s very easy for emotions to take over and deals to become unfair. There are also key provisions of the Virginia Code that need to be complied with to draft a proper settlement agreement during negotiations and then complete an uncontested divorce. Getting these things right the first time will take a lot of stress off your plate as well as your spouses’s.
To ensure your marital settlement agreement and any other divorce-related agreements (including child custody and support payments) are truly fair to both of you, it’s best to consult a professional such as a legal coach, who can review your DIY divorce documents and help you protect yourself and your assets with the proper phrasing.
When to get help with your DIY divorce
If you don’t have a background in legal, representing yourself in court can be challenging, even in the most amicable of situations. A legal coach can help you better navigate the practical financial and logistical aspects of a divorce, as well as the heightened emotions involved.
This is especially true in divorce cases where there are financial or power imbalances in the relationship. Not everyone knows how to handle divorce negotiations, and someone who doesn’t feel empowered to advocate for themselves may end up giving into an unfair deal because they don’t know how to accurately represent or defend themselves.
You can count on a legal coach to support you as you prepare your case and present the facts accurately and work toward a more positive outcome.
Considerations for choosing a legal case coach
Here are a few questions to ask your prospective legal coach before hiring them:
- What services do you offer? Some legal coaches only offer templatized legal case forms without any additional 1:1 guidance from a legal professional; others only offer consulting while you’re left to find and draft documents on your own. Services like My Legal Case Coach offer both.
- Can you provide the level of support I need? You may feel confident taking on most aspects of your DIY divorce and just need a bit of support to navigate more complicated matters. Alternatively, you may feel completely overwhelmed and need someone to guide you through the process, start to finish. Either way, you’ll want to discuss your needs with your legal case coach so they can support you accordingly.
- When and how do I contact you if I have questions? Legal matters don’t always happen during business hours. Look for a coach who is available to help you on your schedule, including early mornings, evenings, and weekend, via channels like email, phone, and video conferencing.
- Do you have examples of past client success stories? It’s crucial to hire a legal consultant you can trust, as they will be working with you closely on very personal matters. Coaching with My Legal Case Coach takes place with a licensed attorney, so all client communications and identity are subject to attorney-client privilege. However, coaching clients may provide a testimonial if they are comfortable doing so. You can read several amazing testimonials from successful coaching clients who wanted to share their stories on our website.
While divorce is never easy, getting the right legal help can alleviate some of the stress of this challenging situation. If you’re a Virginia resident looking for help with your DIY divorce, schedule a free consultation call with My Legal Case Coach. We’ll guide you every step of the way to help you achieve the best possible outcome as you represent yourself in your divorce.