Individuals in Missouri who decide to get divorced may be tempted to go through the process without the help of a lawyer. However, in their effort to save money, they might end up paying more both financially and emotionally. Here are a few ways an attorney can help divorcing individuals to achieve the most personally favorable outcomes.
Help with property division
One of the top reasons to hire an attorney is that an attorney can assist in property division. For instance, one’s attorney can help a divorcing individual determine whether to keep and stay in the marital home or sell the house and split the proceeds with the other party. An attorney can also help with dividing any other real estate that the two parties may jointly own.
Help with child custody
If a divorcing individual has young children, the divorce can quickly become complicated and conflict-ridden. The two parents will need to create a detailed custody agreement as well as create a parenting schedule and plan. The plan should ideally cover matters such as where the children will go during the holidays and with whom the children will live primarily. An experienced attorney can help a divorcing parent through this process.
Help with the splitting of retirement assets
A Missouri family law attorney can additionally help a divorcing individual to decide how best to split retirement account funds. These funds may be in an individual retirement account or a 401(k). One’s attorney can ensure that the funds are divided in a fair way while also helping his or her client to avoid any tax issues that may crop up as a result. All in all, a savvy attorney will seek to protect his or her client’s best interests given the circumstances surrounding the divorce while fighting for the best possible outcome.
