With the rise of “do-it-yourself” type online legal service sites that claim to enable individuals to easily handle legal matters without the help of an attorney, many people have been emboldened to give it a try. These sites charge small amounts of money to provide fill in the blank form documents that allow people to handle all kinds of cases, including divorces, without a lawyer. Though this might appear to be beneficial in some simple or amicable cases, there are a host of drawbacks that can rear their ugly heads and cause devastating problems for years to come. Let’s explore some of the potential dangers of said “do it yourself” online legal services in Tennessee as it relates to divorce:
Mistakes
Financial and/or other mistakes are common among those choosing to handle their own cases, and these mistakes tend to be costly. A recent article in The New York Times discussed the case of a woman who tried to file a divorce on her own using forms procured online only to be rebuffed by clerks after making a formatting error. She then had a lawyer resolve the document errors who informed her that if she simply waited a few months before filing, she would be able to claim a portion of her husband’s pension. All too often, the form documents offered for purchase or otherwise by online websites are outdated, insufficient, or simply wrong. It’s not uncommon for individuals to print and fill in such forms, only to later find themselves turned away by the Court Clerk’s Office for failing to follow the requirements set out in the Rules of Civil Procedure and family court rules – mistakes that an experienced attorney would never make.
Speed
Another problem often seen in cases where parties try and handle their own divorce cases is speed. Though you may think it will be faster to file a case on your own, it can actually end up taking much longer than anticipated. Experts say it is common for people to quickly go file a petition for divorce, only to then watch as the process bogs down, with neither party understanding the law well enough to move things along with sufficient speed. An attempt to hurry things up can actually end up costing you valuable time.
Forgotten Details
Arguably the most critical problem with attempting to handle a divorce case on your own is the possibility of forgetting or omitting crucial details that could come back to haunt you later. Parents need to be especially careful when handling divorces on their own, as parenting plans and child support calculations can be incredibly complex, and the risks associated with a vague visitation schedule are enormous. Not only can this lead to otherwise avoidable disputes between parents, but unraveling the mess later on could end up costing far more than it would have cost to simply do it right the first time with an experienced attorney.
Donna Wagner has vast experience in the area of family law within the Tennessee court system and can help simplify the divorce procedure for you. Contact her today to schedule a consultation.
Real-life results
See what happy clients are saying about me.
“I spoke with several attorneys and from the moment I spoke with Donna I knew she was the person I wanted to hire for a child custody case.
From the very first interaction she was enthusiastic, friendly, and honest. She asked a lot of questions to get to know the case well. I was so impressed with how thorough and thoughtful she was throughout the entire process, explaining every step along the way.
Donna was great at staying in contact and kept me updated as everything progressed. She was affordable and very fair in her billing. If ever another situation is to arise in which I’m requiring legal assistance and representation she will be the first I call.
Due to Donna’s persistence I was able to come out ahead with more than I had ever hoped for when I first brought her my case. She helped me to see and understand things about my situation that would have never occurred to me on my own.
This woman has so much integrity! I’m so grateful for all of her help during a nerve wracking time. She was incredibly personable. I highly recommend Donna Wagner for your legal needs.
Best decision I ever made in the midst of a divorce, from someone who asked for the divorce, was to hire Donna Wagner. I was facing an attorney who was representing my spouse, thinking all I had to do was sign the papers. No, they were attempting to get money out of me. Keep in mind we didn’t have any kids. Anyhow, Donna came in and shut it all down. I was due in court in a week and she got that continued. After going back and forth with the opposing attorney, Donna was able to not only get them to settle the case without going to court but have everything ruled in my favor. I am finally divorced and can breathe easy. Thank you Donna Wagner!
Donna provided such expertise during my case with her. She was always responsive, knowledgeable and professional, while also being compassionate to my situation. I cannot recommend her enough!
I know for certain that If I am needing an attorney again in the future, I will be using Donna Wagner. There are so many great things to say about Donna. However, I believe what I appreciated most was how Donna handles special situations, and I assure you, my circumstances were just that! Donna was very thorough during my entire case. She was able to address my unique case but also do so with legal basis even though the courts may not always allow for such situations. Donna was very thorough each step of the way and was certain to not leave any stone un-turned. One thing I really liked about Donna was her fire. When situations arose, she can be more than passionate about her job and serving justice to those who deserve it. I also want Donna’s clients to know that she was very timely with me in her communications with me. Whether by email or phone, she was always just a call or a message away. When being in a legal situation, I know from previous experience, being able to reach your attorney means everything. I am more than pleased with the results that I recieved from Donna Wagner, and I assure you my case turned out better than I had imagined and even for a fair price. Donna Wagner rocks!
I know for certain that If I am needing an attorney again in the future, I will be using Donna Wagner. There are so many great things to say about Donna. However, I believe what I appreciated most was how Donna handles special situations, and I assure you, my circumstances were just that! Donna was very thorough during my entire case. She was able to address my unique case but also do so with legal basis even though the courts may not always allow for such situations. Donna was very thorough each step of the way and was certain to not leave any stone un-turned. One thing I really liked about Donna was her fire. When situations arose, she can be more than passionate about her job and serving justice to those who deserve it. I also want Donna’s clients to know that she was very timely with me in her communications with me. Whether by email or phone, she was always just a call or a message away. When being in a legal situation, I know from previous experience, being able to reach your attorney means everything. I am more than pleased with the results that I recieved from Donna Wagner, and I assure you my case turned out better than I had imagined and even for a fair price. Donna Wagner rocks!
I obtained Mrs. Donna Wagner’s services in 2012 to help with my charge of driving under the influence. I first called several other attorneys, but none of them were willing to listen to my case. Mrs. Wagner not only took the time to listen but went out of her way to be sensitive to my issues, respond quickly to my questions, and help me understand this unfamiliar process. It was clear to me from the beginning that she knew the system well and was very thorough in her exploration into my case. With her experience and knowledge of the Mt. Juiliet court system, combined with her adept use of the evidence at hand, she was able to get my charges significantly reduced. I could not be more happy with my choice of attorney. I am certain that I would not have had such a successful outcome without her guidance and skill.
