Do you still need a divorce lawyer if you agree on everything?

Divorce is often a contentious process, pitting one spouse against another, but if you are lucky, you and your partner may find you agree on most matters, including custody of your children and division of the marital property.

If this is the case, you may wonder if you still need a lawyer to handle your divorce. Before you try to navigate the legal proceedings yourself, consider these factors first.

Are you prepared to draft a divorce agreement yourself?

Your divorce agreement is a legally binding contract. An improperly drafted document could have serious and unexpected implications lasting for years. A legal representative can ensure that the settlement accurately represents the agreed-upon terms and includes the correct legal language.

Have you really considered everything?

Though you and your spouse may agree on many things related to your divorce, there could still be many unresolved details that you have not addressed. For example, you may have decided to sell your home and split the proceeds equally, but have you determined who will pay the mortgage while the house is on the market?

There are many decisions you must make related to custody, child support, alimony, retirement accounts, life insurance beneficiaries and division of debts. Unless you are an expert on these topics, you could easily overlook an issue that could become a point of contention between you and your spouse.

An amicable divorce is the best-case scenario, and a lawyer can help to ensure that it remains so when unexpected issues arise.