Don't Be Your Own Lawyer: Reasons to Hire a Family Lawyer
The stakes are usually high in family law cases, so it is important to make wise decisions regarding how your case will be handled. Although you're not legally required to turn your family law case over to a family lawyer, you should consider hiring one.
Check out these important reasons to seek out a family lawyer instead of representing yourself in court.
You Need Someone to Decipher the Court Process
Being your own lawyer is a move that will put you at a great disadvantage, especially if the other party is going to be represented by a lawyer. Like other professions, the legal field has jargon and procedural technicalities that you may not be familiar with as a layperson.
It will take you time and effort to familiarise yourself with how the court process works, as well as the key terminologies you'll need to understand to represent yourself effectively. Note that time is not on your side, so you may have less chance of getting a favourable outcome from the court.
Save yourself the time and hassle of learning about the court process by enlisting the assistance of a family lawyer. Once they get all the crucial details of your case, they're good to go.
The Court Process Can Be Intimidating
Self-representation in court is not for the faint-hearted. This is because litigation involves a series of questionings and cross-examinations to establish credibility over the other party. You will need to address the court eloquently and make them see things from your point of view. Of course, you will also be tasked with the responsibility of providing concrete evidence to corroborate your claims.
If you're not bold enough to interrogate and take on the questions thrown at you, you may compromise your case. It would be better to let a lawyer handle the pressure for you. They earn a living arguing out cases, so they can handle court proceedings much better than you can.
You Want to Win Your Case
Nobody goes to a family law court to lose a case. But if you decide to represent yourself, you'll run this risk. If you lose your case, you could end up losing a lot more than what you could have paid a lawyer. Plus, the judge may order you to pay for the other side's legal expenses.
A family lawyer can tell you if you have a good chance of winning your case, and recommend the best approach to win the case. This will save you the disappointment and financial implications of losing a court battle.
As you have seen, there are great reasons to hire a family lawyer instead of representing yourself in court. Schedule a consultation with a family lawyer to discuss the legal options available to you. They might even help you negotiate an out-of-court settlement!