There’s an old saying that “if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.”
If you’ve found a website that promises to give you “all the documents you need” so you can do your divorce without a lawyer, it’s probably too good to be true.
That website is likely claiming to give you a form that “can be used anywhere.” In my experience at an attorney, there’s no such thing. Divorce laws vary from state to state and the divorce forms that judges want to see vary from judge to judge. No matter how slick the forms look, a website can’t tell you which court is right for you.
A website can’t tell you that certain judges will only accept forms approved by the Tennessee Supreme Court, while other write their own divorce forms. Additionally, you can’t call a website when your ex begins to say he/she is having second thoughts about signing. That website can’t tell you about the tax consequences of the various kinds of alimony, and it can’t tell you how to reduce transactional costs.
Some of the messiest and most expensive divorces I’ve ever seen came from people who tried to do it themselves and got in over their heads. By hiring an experienced Knoxville divorce attorney, you are hiring someone who knows the local judges and courts, is up to date on Tennessee law, can be sensitive to tax consequences and transactional costs, and who is available at any time to answer your questions.
A divorce sets you up for the rest of your life as a single person. You deserve to have that life built on a sturdy legal foundation.
