How you and your spouse relate during your divorce proceedings will determine the outcome of the process. For example, if you agree that living separately is the best idea, you're likely to agree on several issues quickly. However, if one party tries to use the separation to get back at the other, the divorce may turn into an emotionally draining legal battle. If this happens to you, your ex may do everything possible to get the upper hand in the proceedings. Therefore, it would be ill-advised to try and handle the judicial process without a lawyer. Here are some reasons why.

Your Partner May Hide Some Assets from You

The law states that you should share your matrimonial property equally after a divorce. Unfortunately, your ex-spouse may try to hide some assets so they won't have to share them. This could deny you the opportunity to own property that you have worked hard to acquire. Furthermore, if you don't have legal representation, you might fall for false claims from your partner. A divorce lawyer would not fall for this trick. Instead, they can undertake a conclusive investigation to unearth all the assets your ex-spouse may have hidden. Then, they can help ensure that the judge includes them on the full list so that you receive your share.  

Your Partner May Hold Hard-Line Stands

It may be difficult for spouses to agree on important issues when one or both of you is angry. In this case, your partner may hold hard-line stands to punish you for perceived wrongs. For example, they might demand full custody of your kids or deny you the right to visit them. If this happens, your family attorney can take over the negotiations. They will calmly negotiate with your spouse's legal representative, ensuring that they come up with an agreeable solution.

Your Partner May Request Unreasonable Payments

Your partner might also request unreasonable child or spousal support payments. You could end up paying more than you need to if you don't know how to calculate these payments. This is why you require professional legal services to help you calculate the right figures. When negotiating, the calculated figures will guide your attorney to ensure that your partner does not demand payments that you cannot afford.

As you can see, several different factors can complicate the judicial process for your divorce, making it difficult to complete it as seamlessly as you may have envisioned. For this reason, you should never handle the process without professional help. Instead, hire family law services—like North Metro Litigators—to guide and represent you, ensuring that your divorce goes as well as possible.