Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Do I Need A Lawyer To Get Divorced In Orange County?

By Jon D. Alexander, Esq.

No. You are not required by law to hire an attorney or lawyer to get divorced in Orange County, California.

Beware though that there are numerous instances where you, without a doubt, should retain counsel. Foregoing the advice of a qualified attorney in these situations will cost money, time, and be extremely emotionally taxing.

This list contains 10 situations where advice of counsel is essential. The list is by no means exhaustive but will give you a good idea whether you should seek the advice of a qualified Orange County Divorce Attorney.

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 http://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. - 15437

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