These days, many couples are trying to preserve their estate by handling their own divorces or using alleged cost saving legal websites. While working together while going through a divorce is recommended—and it can save money—not hiring the right attorney to assist through the process can oftentimes end up costing even more.
First, unless both parties have equal, independent, and accurate knowledge of the community estate and their own separate estates, they must have representation. It is extremely difficult for unrepresented parties to trace and value their own estates or trust the other party’s representations without professional guidance. Rarely do both spouses have the same awareness and access to the finances of the community estate or the other spouse’s separate estate. This can all lead to an unequal division of property, a failure to identify particular assets and liabilities, and a loss of one party’s separate estate.
Without the proper closing documents to transfer assets or secure liabilities, the parties are left completely unprotected.
Additionally, without an attorney to prepare the documents needed to formalize the divorce, there are certain to be issues that could later result in attorneys’ fees needed to fix deficiencies in the final documents. When parties prepare their own decrees and submit them to the court these decrees often have to be clarified in a later court proceeding. Also, without the proper closing documents to transfer assets or secure liabilities, the parties are left completely unprotected—a fact they are often unaware of until it is too late. For example, failing to properly prepare and record a deed to transfer property pursuant to a decree can lead to an issue down the line.
Most attorneys do understand no one likes spending money on an attorney, and it is enticing to try to avoid this expense when faced with so many other costs while going through a divorce. However, having the right attorneys to ensure that all assets and liabilities are identified, traced, and valued (through discovery, the exchange of sworn inventories, and the hiring of a forensic accountant, if necessary) and that final documents formalize the agreements made between spouses (the decree and all closing/transfer documents) protects couples from spending or losing more money in the long run.
If you are looking for a personal, boutique-style law firm headed by lawyers you can call upon to assist with most any legal matter, including divorce, Brousseau Naftis & Massingill, P.C. is your law firm. Led by D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas Maryann Brousseau and Ron Massingill, Brousseau Naftis & Massingill, P.C. offers a high level of personal service and strategic thinking that are unmatched. Since its formation, Brousseau Naftis & Massingill, P.C. has been the name to know for small business owners, families, and individuals. The firm holds an “AV” rating from its peers and Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating possible. Their award-winning team of attorneys offers experience, knowledge, business sophistication, and a personalized commitment in a broad spectrum of litigation and transactional matters of all sizes. They treat their clients as family and collaborate with each client in reaching the best solution based on the client’s goals, costs, and achievable benefit.
