If you are preparing to file for divorce or you have been served with divorce papers from your spouse, it is time to think about getting an attorney for the dissolution of your marriage. While you might have learned that you can technically represent yourself in the divorce case, you should know that there are many reasons to avoid doing that. You want to make sure that you are tackling this legal matter with the help of a divorce attorney for the following reasons:

You'll Get Help Better Understanding The Law

It will be hard to advocate for yourself if you are not completely familiar with the divorce laws of your state. Without a thorough understanding, you could find that you are not going to get fair treatment in the divorce agreement. You could accidentally agree to things that are unjust, simply because the other person's attorney took advantage of your lack of understanding of the law. Having a divorce attorney on your side will help ensure that you do not have to deal with such things.

The Can Help With Providing Clear Communication With The Other Party

Your attorney is hired by you to work on your behalf. They are not emotionally involved in the matter of your divorce so you don't have to worry about their emotions getting the best of them when trying to communicate with your soon-to-be ex-spouse or their attorney. It can be hard for some people to communicate effectively with the opposing party when the divorce becomes a high-conflict matter. This can cause the entire process to drag on longer than needed, which means more money is spent on the courts. If you want to make sure that your divorce will be handled as effectively and as quickly as possible, you will want to hire an attorney to represent you.

The best thing to do now is to get in touch with at least a couple of divorce attorneys. Call to schedule free or low-cost consultations with them so you have the chance to briefly discuss the specifics of your case, get insight regarding how each attorney feels they can best help you, and discuss the initial retainer and hourly rate. Don't forget to ask how they bill once the retainer is used up. For example, some attorneys will simply send their clients one bill a month that will include the previous month's hours and fees used. Others might have a rule in place where they send bills once a certain dollar amount is owed, whether it takes a week to get there or two months.

For more information, contact a company such as Peterson & Peterson LLC.