With lawyers being able to advertise themselves online now, there is a new pool of divorce lawyers. While there is nothing wrong with using the Internet to find a divorce lawyer, you must also be very careful, keeping in mind that the online community consists of lawyers from all over the world. If you are not careful you can make the mistake of choosing a divorce lawyer that knows nothing about the requirements and regulations in the state where you are filing. Making such a mistake can cost you thousands of dollars and may even result in the divorce not being approved by your state.
You need to remember the judge has the final word when it comes to granting a divorce in a particular state, county and even municipality. This happens only after careful review and the determination that the paperwork is in order and the lawyer followed all of the proper procedures. One error that is possible when you choose a lawyer that does not have expertise in the local requirements might occur if you live in a state or region that still abides by old regulations rather than the more common “no fault divorce” laws.
For example you live in Fairfax, VA and if the lawyer you choose is not aware of the divorce laws where you live, you could spend a lot of money attempting to end a marriage without a solid basis. While not common, there are still a few states, regions and countries that still limit divorce to extenuating circumstances including but not limited to the following:
- Adultery
- Desertion
- Physical or emotional abuse
- Refusal to financially provide for the family
- Mental illness
- Incarceration
- Fraud
In most places the law is “no fault divorce,” a spin off the age old California “incompatibility” divorce. Since the latter half of the 20th century, most states have followed this formula, but there is not a guarantee it is true throughout the world. You must remember that online divorce lawyers may not be licensed where you live, and as such, they may not be legally able to represent you in court.
While there is no reason not to choose online divorce lawyers, you may want to limit yourself to just legal advice. If you are actually looking for a divorce lawyer to represent you in your divorce and you have ancillaries (child support, custody, visitation, etc.), you may want to limit yourself to local divorce lawyers in Fairfax VA that have an online presence. In that case you know you have someone who knows the local requirements and regulations and will also be able to represent you in court. While it may cost you more money to use local divorce lawyers than online ones you can be guaranteed that the lawyer you choose is well-versed in the laws that govern the state where you live and the governing entity under which you will be filing your divorce petition. Saving money is of little importance if you choose a divorce lawyer that is not licensed to practice law in the state where you live.
Kales & Kales, PLC 