We get it. Attorneys can be expensive and legal work can seem daunting. Many people ask themselves, do I really need an attorney to get this done? The hard truth is yes, it is best to handle your legal matter with an attorney first instead of hoping that you don’t mess it up yourself.
Why People Go It Alone
Too often people try to represent themselves in a legal matter in the hope that they get it right and do it correctly the first time. Besides, what can go wrong? You know what you want, and there are tons of articles explaining the law out there. How difficult can it really be? The answer: Extremely.
What Can Go Wrong
Time and again, people have approached me after a case has moved forward with them representing themselves. Now they are in trouble, and the court is mad at them because they argued an issue the court did not want to argue, pushed a concern that the court viewed as insignificant, or lost a hearing that significantly impaired their legal interests. Now they want to undo what they have done and get on the right track.
A Few Specifics
On more than one occasion, I have had a party who represented themselves at a temporary order hearing where the court made limited rulings on custody and visitation. The party signed a document and did not understand that they essentially gave the other parent full control over their children for the duration of the divorce. Now, they want to undo that agreement, and courts aren’t keen on modifying temporary orders, especially if they are agreed to.
In yet another case, a protective order was filed against a parent on behalf of the parent’s minor child, of whom the parent had custody. A final order of this type is prohibited by statute, so it should have been an easy fix. However, the parent was representing themselves and was not aware of that, and the court ended up granting a final protective order on behalf of the child against the custodial parent.
In yet another case, a party agreed to a child support order that had an effective date a year prior to the month the order was entered. This gave the other parent an additional year’s worth of child support that was already past due. This is the kind of issue an attorney is trained to catch.
These little changes have significant impacts on people’s lives and can have a serious impact on yours if you find yourself in a similar circumstance.
Can the Damage Be Undone?
Sometimes an attorney can help you undo the damage that has been caused on your case, but sometimes that damage can be irreversible. Additionally, it can be expensive to undo the things that have already occurred in your case, meaning you might find yourself spending money to get back to square one. This can be avoided if you get it right the first time.
How We Can Help
That’s where we’re here to help. At Croslin Law, we get the case off to a strong start, so you don’t have to worry about hurting your case. Much like a doctor, spending the money on an attorney now can save you the illness and injury and costs that go with those later.
If you are not sure whether you need an attorney, give Croslin Law a call today to see how you can be helped.