Most couples who decide to end their marital relationship are most likely to get the answer to the question “Can you share a lawyer in a divorce?”. This article explores everything regarding sharing a lawyer in a divorce while clarifying your other doubts as well. So let’s take a look!
Can you share a lawyer in a divorce?
The answer to the question, “Can you share a lawyer in a divorce?” is: No, you can’t share a lawyer in most divorce cases, and there are valid reasons for this.
Most couples wonder if they can share a lawyer in a divorce to cut down on the lawyer’s fees while agreeing on all the terms of the divorce. Even though that sounds practical and interesting, it is actually not a good idea in most divorce cases. But to make your divorce process less expensive as compared to hiring two separate lawyers, you can get the help of a divorce mediator, who tries to resolve your issues by being neutral.
The following reasons help you understand why you can’t share a lawyer in a divorce:
- It’s very rare when there is no controversy or conflict while getting a divorce, even though you agree on all the terms. So having the same attorney will not be able to focus on the interests of both partners (as they’re opposing).
- Having the same attorney increases the chances of influence in the case, which is not acceptable in court.
- While talking about representing clients in court, one attorney can’t represent both spouses in court.
All these reasons give a clear-cut answer to the question of sharing a lawyer in divorce. But if you want to hire one lawyer for divorce settlement, then divorce mediation is the perfect pick. Let’s get to know a little bit about divorce mediation.
Divorce mediation
In divorce mediation, a neutral third-party professional helps both spouses agree on the terms of getting divorced outside the courtroom. By being neutral, they give each spouse the best advice. So this is what you can do in case you want to hire a single lawyer for your divorce case. That is, hire a lawyer-mediator to lessen the cost and harassment of getting a divorce.
But remember, a divorce mediator helps you resolve your issues outside the courtroom, so they don’t fight from either side in court. The main aim of an attorney-mediator is to give the best advice by understanding your circumstances.
What can a divorce mediator do?
The following list shows the main responsibilities of a divorce mediator, i.e.,
- Resolving issues between both spouses to make the divorce case uncontested.
- Giving the best advice as per the state’s law and your circumstances.
- Ensuring all the divorce papers are filled out and attached properly.
- Considering all the areas of compromise.
- Drafts the final settlement agreement to get a divorce.
If you’re looking for a single lawyer to help you both, then simply go for divorce mediation. We’ve got the detailed answer to the question, “Can you share a lawyer in a divorce?”. Let’s clarify some more doubts regarding lawyers and divorce, so keep reading!
Do both parties need an attorney in a divorce?
To get a divorce, whether you need an attorney or not depends on your circumstances. Generally, no law specifies that both of you must have one to get a divorce.
If you can’t resolve issues and agree on the terms of getting a divorce, you need to hire an attorney to protect your rights and help you in your divorce process in every possible way. Whereas, if you can make an agreement of your own on the terms of getting a divorce, then you don’t need an attorney in a divorce. But it’s still suggested to get an attorney to go through the agreement settlement, make sure the terms are fair, ensure divorce papers are signed properly, and give the best advice as per your circumstances in protecting your rights.
Can you divorce without a lawyer?
Yes, you can get a divorce without a lawyer. If you agree on the terms of getting a divorce with your spouse, know the state’s law and how to file. And if the court finds it fair, then you can get a divorce without a lawyer. In short, by making your case uncontested, you can get a divorce without a lawyer. For uncontested divorce, online divorce platforms are even more convenient, so give it a thought!
Do I need a divorce lawyer if my spouse has one?
As per the law, just because your spouse has a divorce lawyer doesn’t mean you must have one; you can proceed without one. But yes, it’s recommended to have one represent your case in court when your spouse hires a lawyer. In such cases, hiring a lawyer becomes crucial to protecting your rights and interests. So considering your best interests, you should hire a lawyer when your spouse hires one.
I hope this article clears your doubts regarding hiring lawyers while getting a divorce, including getting the answer to the question, “Can you share a lawyer in a divorce?”.
