My ex and I are trying to keep things friendly - do we still need lawyers?

If you and your spouse are keeping things friendly during the divorce process, first of all, that is huge. Respectful communication is one of the most important predictors of a smooth and efficient process. But even if you're in agreement on most things, in many circumstances you should still probably have a lawyer of your own. Not because you're heading into a fight, but because a lawyer helps to protect your rights, understand your decisions fully, and make sure your agreements are legally solid. Well, there might be some very unique circumstances, like if you have very little assets and no kids, or for short term marriages, there it might be possible to work without representation. But in most cases having a lawyer will make the process more efficient and make sure that nothing is missed. So if you are already in agreement about co-parenting, property division, and cash flow, that is amazing. That's really the hard part is figuring out all of those things. A lawyer in that case can really act more like a guide, reviewing your paperwork, noting if there's any red flags or anything that you might have missed, and making sure that everything is drafted in a manner that doesn't leave anything open to interpretation. You don't want any vague language in your agreements, and lawyers are really good at helping with that. In some states, even having legal representation can help you speed things up. Courts are often more likely to approve a settlement faster if you both have legal representation, and in some cases you might be able to file and get a divorce without ever having to even appear in front of a judge as long as you both have attorneys. So that could be time saved, stress avoided, and money well spent. Remember, separate lawyers doesn't mean separate goals, it just means that you're both protected while you're working toward that same goal of maintaining respect and having a peaceful, fair outcome. You're setting yourselves up to co parent better, heal faster, and move forward with confidence. So, yes, stay kind, keep it friendly, and still think about getting your own legal support. Because you're not just ending something, but you're building your next chapter. And you really want to make sure you have all the support you need in that part ways can educate you on everything you need to know about divorce, and how to navigate the process with an attorney. Or in those certain circumstances where it works potentially going through the process without one.

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