Can I Trust a Cheap Download for My Divorce?
You may be asking “Can I trust a download for my divorce?” Using a commercial divorce website instead of an attorney for a cheap uncontested divorce in Kentucky may sound enticing, but it comes with its risks and drawbacks. Let’s dive into why relying solely on an online service may not be the best idea for your divorce proceedings.
Getting Divorce Documents from an Online Service is Risky
The simple fact is that every Family Court in Kentucky has their own preferences for how they want divorces filed. Does your court require marital counseling? Will the court allow you to do everything on paper, or does the judge require you to appear in person to testify? If you are taking time off of work, how much will that cost you? By paying a little less to a commercial website, you actually run the risk of being out more money than you intended.
The Importance of Professional Legal Counsel in an Uncontested Divorce
Let’s face it, a divorce is really important. You and your spouse want a clean break. You want your property protected or the custody agreement to be air-tight. Perhaps you need your name taken off the mortgage or car payment. You do not want to come back to court because the cheap paperwork you downloaded did not get the job done.
An attorney will make sure you did it right the first time. They will also handle all communications with the court and the clerks. An attorney will help you avoid costly mistakes.
Not sure who to believe? Ask a court clerk!
The commercial websites are telling you that they are 100% reliable. Attorneys say to not trust commercial websites with important matters like this. Who do you believe? The best person to ask is someone who works in your local Circuit Clerk’s office. Ask them “What do you think about divorce documents downloaded from a website?” They will sigh very deeply and roll their eyes. While they cannot give you legal advice, they will mostly likely advise you to not go that route.
By using an online service, you are depriving yourself of personalized legal advice from someone who absolutely knows the local court’s preferences and local customs. Those generic forms and templates simply will not help you. One small mistake in filling out those online forms runs the risk of delaying or even invalidating the divorce.
Conclusion
The simple fact is a “download divorce” from a commercial website is NOT worth it. When you use an online service, you’re basically on your own. You don’t have someone by your side to protect your legal interests. Before you decide to go the online service route, think about the risks and limitations involved.
Our law firm charges $400 plus the filing fee to handle your uncontested divorce. You start by answering a questionnaire for us. We share drafts of the paperwork with you to make sure it’s right the first time. We answer your questions and we handle all communications with the judge and clerks. You don’t have to miss work, you don’t have to worry.
You can start here on our website. We also have a detailed question-and-answer section to help educate you on the process.
Click HERE to get started, or click on the Uncontested Divorce link on our MAIN PAGE.
I agree. I paid a couple hundred bucks for documents that didn’t work.