Divorce column February 2025

Do I need a Solicitor to get divorced?
This is a question which is sometimes asked and often,
understandably, due to financial concerns regarding legal
fees.
The short answer is that you do not have to have a solicitor
to get divorced – but beware false economy. Saving some
expense on fees in the short term can result in more money
being spent, or lost, in the long term. This could be on taking
corrective action to put right something which has gone wrong
or perhaps by settling a financial claim at an undervalue.
You are entitled to ‘have a go’ at acting for yourself and if you
do you will be known as a litigant in person. Some litigants
in person will find it easier than others to navigate their way
through a legal process but rarely does a litigant in person
properly understand all that’s involved and how best to deal
with all aspects. In particular a litigant in person can soon find
themselves out of their depth dealing with ancillary matters
such as financial issues and child arrangements.
It can be a costly mistake to underestimate the benefit of
having legal representation. Also, I think it’s fair to say that
where one party is legally represented but the other is not then
the playing field is not a level one.
Getting divorced is a legal process and it usually involves more
than just the actual divorce itself. Often there will be financial
or children’s matters to deal with and while some cases might
appear to the layman to be straightforward the reality is that
most are not. Family law is complicated and without a proper
understanding of the law, practice and procedure it is likely
that at some point you will come unstuck. Disagreements or
complications are common and having a solicitor on your
side can help in protecting your interests and in achieving
best possible outcomes.
For advice and assistance regarding divorce and related
matters please get in touch – we are experienced and expert
in this area of law.