You probably thought about this question if you thought about getting a divorce. The answer is definitely yes!
Why get divorced without a lawyer?
There are a number of reasons for considering a divorce without a lawyer. You are probably concerned about the costs of a lawyer. You may think that a couple of lawyers are just going to muck things up. If you and your spouse agree on stuff, why would you want a lawyer anyway? You don’t want to go to Court anyway, so you don’t need a lawyer.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Wyoming?
Yes, divorce lawyers are expensive. If you call around, you will get quotes for retainers anywhere from about $1500 to $5000.
The low end is for relatively simple divorces with no kids, minimal assets, and no retirement accounts to split.
The higher number is for divorces with kids, especially if custody is an issue.
The retainers can be much higher for people with retirements to split, real estate holdings, businesses to value, etc. However, people who have all that stuff are probably used to hiring lawyers. They have no desire to get a divorce without a lawyer, and they are not reading this post!
Divorce lawyers can be less expensive if they offer unbundled legal services. They still cost quite a bit, but since you can do some of the work yourself, you will only pay a lawyer for the work they do for you on a limited scope basis.
Therefore, the cost of a divorce lawyer is a very good reason to consider getting a divorce without a lawyer.
Lawyers love to fight and they will just muck up our divorce
You are not alone if you think that lawyers will just create problems between you and your spouse during the divorce process.
If you watch a TV show about lawyers, they are always trying to one up each other and fight for their clients with great drama in a courtroom.
You don’t want the drama, you don’t want the fight. You just want to get this miserable process over with. That is why you would like to get a divorce without a lawyer.
While all the dramatic fighting in the courtroom makes for good television, it is not how things work in the real world.
Most good divorce lawyers will handle about a hundred divorces in a year. Of those hundred, maybe five will go to a full trial. Another ten may end up in some sort hearing for the Judge decide a limited issue.
Divorce trials are a lot of work. They are also stressful for the lawyer, and even more stressful for the client. Most divorce lawyers are more interested in advocating a fair settlement for their client, with as little stress as possible.
However, divorce lawyers will protect their clients. And they will indeed muck up the process, if you are trying to cheat or mistreat their clients.
If you and your spouse are not interested in fighting with each other, and you just want a fair divorce, then that might be a good reason to get a divorce without a lawyer.
We agree on everything, so we don’t need a lawyer
If you and your spouse agree on everything, then you might be the perfect couple to get a divorce without a lawyer.
You just need to remember that you need to agree on everything.
- Who takes which car?
- How much equity is in the house, and how will you split it?
- Where will the kids spend the night?
- Who will get them for Thanksgiving this year?
- Who will take which debt?
- When will joint debts be paid or refinanced?
- How much is child support?
- Who takes the tax deductions?
That’s a very short list of the many things you have to agree on in a divorce. Most couples have had quite a few disagreements before they decided to get divorced.
We don’t want to go to Court, so why get a divorce lawyer?
Your desire to avoid going to court is not that good a reason to get divorced without a lawyer.
You must not confuse “not going to court” with not going through the court process. Only a Judge can grant you a divorce, and the only way a Judge will get to do that is if you (or your spouse) files for divorce with the Court.
As stated above, divorce lawyers handle a lot of cases. There just isn’t enough time to take all of those cases to a court trial.
If each divorce trial would take just one day (and some take longer), then one lawyer’s cases would take up 100 of the Court’s working days. There are only about 250 working days in a year. So a couple of divorce lawyers could take up all of the Court’s time. That just isn’t going to happen.
How can I get divorced without a lawyer?
If you decide to get divorced without a lawyer in Wyoming, you have a couple of options.
Wyoming Supreme Court Family Law Self Help Forms
The Wyoming Supreme Court has packets of forms that will help you get a divorce without a lawyer. The packets contain all the forms, and instructions, for getting your divorce.
These forms work well for relatively simple divorces, especially when the parties are agreeable. You just have to follow the instructions carefully.
If your situation does not fit the forms, do not improvise. I once helped a lady who inserted some additional papers into the packet that she drafted herself. These did not make it into the divorce decree. She had to hire me re-open her divorce in order to have the Court award her about $200,000 of her husband’s 401k. If her husband had not been agreeable to the change, she would have been out of luck, and $200,000 poorer.
The Court’s pro se forms and instructions can be picked up from the Clerk of the District Court for a small fee. They can also be downloaded from here.
Get help from a lawyer on a limited scope basis
Even if you would like to get a divorce without a lawyer, you may choose to get a little help along the way. Lawyers who offer limited scope representation, or unbundled legal services, are a good option for providing such help.
These lawyers can do as little as telling you which forms to use for your particular situation.
They can also review the forms that you have completed.
They can draft the papers for you, without actually entering an appearance on your behalf.
In summary, you most certainly can get a divorce without a lawyer. You will definitely save yourself some money. If you and your spouse are agreeable, and your situation is fairly simple, it may be a good option for you.
By Steve Harton
Steve is the owner of the Harton Law Firm in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He helps lots of people with limited scope representations, and unbundled legal services.