What Are Some Potentially Bad Outcomes from DIY Divorces?

 Posted on February 10, 2025 in Divorce

In our DIY world, the do-it-yourself approach to divorce can be appealing, largely due to monetary savings as well as the perception that a DIY divorce is much simpler. Unfortunately, many things can go wrong during a divorce. Often, divorces that start out as uncontested can quickly turn hotly contested. Even when there is no personal dislike between spouses, the process of divorce can be legally complex, financially burdensome, and emotionally difficult.

A do-it-yourself divorce is very different from painting your living room wall or repairing your own dishwasher. DIY divorces can have long-term, adverse consequences that can financially cripple one spouse, end up in an unfair allocation of parental responsibilities, or result in an unfair division of marital assets and loss of support. If you are unaccustomed to navigating the law, it is virtually always better to hire a knowledgeable Illinois family law attorney who has experience in all aspects of divorce.  

How Can a DIY Divorce Can Go Wrong?

A person who chooses to handle his or her own divorce can miss critical legal steps, including meeting crucial deadlines or filing the correct paperwork. Such mistakes can result in the dismissal of the case, additional costs, or unnecessary delays. Further, those in the middle of a divorce often let their emotions dictate their decisions. Having a strong legal advocate can ensure that legal decisions are not made impulsively or without all the necessary information.

Some of the additional ways a DIY divorce can go wrong include:

• There is the potential for an unfair division of marital assets, particularly when one spouse is not equally involved in marital finances. Assets may be undervalued or hidden by one spouse, creating an unfair financial advantage.

• A spousal support decision that does not properly consider all factors on the part of both spouses can leave one spouse struggling to get by after the divorce or the other struggling to pay support.

• The allocation of parental responsibilities and the determination of parenting time may not be fair when there is no legal professional involved who insists on basing the decisions on the child’s best interests and each parent’s ability to provide for the child’s needs.

• The determination of child support requires a detailed analysis of the child’s needs and the financial situations of each parent, something few people going through a divorce can fully understand.

• When a divorce includes intangible assets like business interests and retirement accounts, a spouse who does not fully understand the worth of these assets can end up getting far less than he or she deserves.

• A badly handled DIY divorce can have long-term financial consequences that can include tax liabilities that were not properly considered.

The True Cost of a DIY Divorce

While there may be some initial savings up front with a DIY divorce, mistakes made during a divorce can be costly to fix. In most cases, an attorney must be hired to try and correct these issues after the fact, resulting in additional legal fees, court costs, a delayed divorce, and prolonged stress.

Divorce attorneys provide support and ensure clients’ rights are protected, their decisions are informed, and the final settlement is fair. Divorce attorneys also provide clear answers to legal questions and are dedicated to achieving the best possible outcome.

Contact a Kane County, IL Divorce Lawyer

Your best choice, once you have decided to get a divorce, is to speak to a highly skilled St. Charles, IL divorce attorney from Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC. When you choose our firm, you will benefit from the added convenience of our offices in Kane County, DuPage County, and DeKalb County. MKFM Law has a 75-year+ legacy of helping clients across these areas. Call 630-665-7300 today to schedule your initial attorney meeting to discuss your divorce and have your questions answered.