Step 4: Do it yourself or get a lawyer?
DIY divorce Papers (Slower & Least Costly)
If you plan to handle your divorce on your own without the help of a lawyer, then the first thing you must do is find the appropriate forms required to file for divorce and complete them. The divorce forms are provided by the Maryland Court online or you can buy them from an online provider.
There are very detailed instructions which you need to follow precisely and so, you should take time and fill them out very carefully. Type all the information on the computer or write very neatly.
Rushing through the forms and making mistakes can delay your divorce. If you have any doubts about the forms, then you can check with the court clerk; however, you must bear in mind that they cannot give you any legal advice.
Online Divorce Services (Fastest & Inexpensive)
If you are not really certain about how to fill the forms needed to file for divorce and you do not want to hire the services of a divorce lawyer, then you could use an online divorce service to help in filling the documents. All you need to do is answer some questions about your case and the online service will fill out the forms you need.
You can start your divorce for as little as $84 with an online divorce service like 3stepdivorce.com and can have your paperwork done within a couple of hours.
Once you answer the questions about your case, your final documents will be generated and reviewed. You can simply print the documents and file them with the court clerk in the local courthouse appropriate for your county. You will be charged a fee by the online service for their services.
Attorney Divorce Trial (Longer & Expensive)
While you may be able to handle your divorce on your own, it is usually best to allow a divorce lawyer to handle it for you, because not understanding or knowing the legal nuances can put you at a disadvantage when it comes to handling your case.
The divorce procedure of Maryland may be very different from another state and there are many factors such as understanding the court’s deadlines and meeting them, failing which can jeopardize your case.
If this is the route you have to take, try using a divorce mediator to reduce the amount of time billed that you would if you were using your lawyer. a mediators job is to help both spouse easily and quickly come to an agreement regarding the matter at hand, and best of all they’ll save you thousands of dollars.
A family law attorney will be aware of the rules and law of Maryland and can fight on your behalf, especially if your spouse and you are unable to agree on the various terms of the divorce and your case goes to trial before a judge. The attorney will present your case to the judge, all the evidence and testimonies of witnesses. However, usually, divorce trials are expensive and also take a long time.