Divorcing in Orange County: Must You Hire A Lawyer?
May 13, 2008 6:48 am FamilyNo. You are not required by law to hire an attorney or lawyer to get divorced in Orange County, California.
While you aren’t required to hire an attorney, there are specific situations where you absolutely should find and retain a qualified Divorce lawyer. If you don’t, you’ll risk losing money, time, and might subject yourself to an unreasonable emotional drain.
Below is a list of ten circumstances where you should definitely seek the advice of a qualified Orange County Divorce lawyer. This list is, by no stretch of the imagination, completely exhaustive, but is comprised of many common situations where the advice of an attorney is invaluable.
Either you or your spouse:
1. Has assets acquired before marriage, during the marriage by gift/inheritance, or acquired during marriage with separate property funds; 2. Has substantial assets in need of protection and which may be subject to taxation upon dissolution of marriage; 3. Owns a business; 4. Owns substantial real property (commercial or residential real estate other than the family home); 5. Has threatened to move out of Orange County with or without your children (if applicable); 6. Accepts cash payments for work, which might make verification of income difficult; 7. Alleges that the other is a neglectful parent or has poor judgment or parenting skills; 8. Has warned the other that no financial support will be provided where the other may be entitled to it; 9. Alleges abuse of any kind directed towards one another or the children including any physical, sexual, and non-physical (emotional, verbal, or psychological) abuse; 10. Has been married for 3 or more years.
If any of these situations is applicable to your case, its time to retain a qualified Orange County Divorce lawyer. Please visit our website www.oc-familylawyers.com for a free, confidential consultation.
This article is not offered as, nor is it to be construed, as legal advice, nor does it create any relationship, attorney/client or other, between the author and the reader. To obtain any legal advice, consult an attorney licensed to practice law in your state.
