As you probably know, making the decision to file for divorce often happens a long time before either spouse decides to involve the legal system.
Once you are ready to start the process, there are a number of things you must do to ensure your paperwork is accepted by the court and your divorce can be finalized. You can file for divorce on your own, but most find the process overwhelming, especially if children or property is involved.
This is especially true when a spouse has a retirement account, stock options or pension benefits which need to be valued and properly divided. For pensions, military benefits, and Teacher Retirement System benefits, the value reflected on the annual statement is only a fraction of what the present value of the benefit is actually worth.
Without the guidance of an experienced attorney many litigants leave the actual value of those assets out of the division of their estate.
This results in one spouse losing out on the value of those benefits and receiving far less than he or she would have if they had an attorney involved from the onset of the litigation. Most individuals going through a divorce need the help of an experienced divorce attorney to make sure they are treated fairly in the process.