The answer is “yes.” Under Maryland laws and court procedures, it is possible for a person to file for divorce here in Charles County, Maryland, without hiring an experienced divorce attorney. Indeed, the Maryland court system has a convenient fill-in-the-blank divorce complaint that can be found here.

In this article, the top-tier Maryland divorce lawyers at the Law Office of Robert Castro discuss some circumstances where a do-it-yourself-divorce might be a viable option and reasons why you should avoid a do-it-yourself-divorce. If you have been searching for the “best divorce Law Firm in Charles County, MD,” call us here at (301) 870-1200. We are dedicated and driven divorce attorneys located in Waldorf, Maryland.

Divorce by mutual consent

In our view, the only circumstance when a do-it-yourself-divorce is a viable option is if both spouses are in complete agreement about the divorce and how to resolve all issues in the divorce, including property division, alimony, child custody, visitation, and child support. In Maryland, this is generally called a “divorce by mutual consent.” However, even in this type of case, a do-it-yourself-divorce has inherent risks, and it would be advisable to seek legal counsel. For example, for a divorce by mutual consent, the spouses must prepare and sign a Divorce Settlement Agreement and present it to the Maryland divorce court for approval. The Agreement must be in proper form and be complete. Further, the spouses must understand their legal rights and must also understand what rights they may be giving up by signing the Agreement. As an example, the lower-earning spouse generally has a right to some amount of alimony. If that spouse does not ask for alimony and such is written in the Divorce Settlement Agreement, once the divorce is finalized, that spouse cannot seek alimony at a later date.

Cost should not be a consideration

Often, divorcing spouses think that a do-it-yourself-divorce is required for cost reasons. However, cost should not be a consideration. First, hiring competent Maryland divorce lawyers does not cost that much. Further, costs can be saved if the spouses can agree on as many issues as possible.

Third, you will be required to go to court and appear before the judge if you file for a do-it-yourself divorce. This can be stressful and even more so, given the emotional nature of a divorce. It is best to have a talented Maryland divorce lawyer handle the appearance before the judge.

Fourth, having a consultation with a Maryland Divorce Law Firm can actually save money (and time). Those filing do-it-yourself-divorces often make mistakes with the legal forms. This results in lost time and money. Further, if the legal forms are incomplete or contain mistakes, you will have to appear before the judge more than once. As the saying goes, “time is money,” and good Maryland divorce attorneys can get your divorce done as quickly as possible (particularly where the spouses are in agreement on most issues).

All in all, you CAN file a do-it-yourself divorce in Maryland. However, it is best not to. The quickest and easiest method of obtaining a divorce is to hire good Maryland divorce attorneys.

Contact Waldorf, Maryland Family Law and Divorce Lawyer Robert Castro Today

This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions, contact our office to speak to an experienced Maryland family law and divorce lawyer at (301) 870-1200. We are Waldorf, MD, Divorce lawyers. Our address is 2670 Crain Highway, Waldorf, MD, 20601.