DIY Divorce

[cheekything]

Is a DIY divorce a good idea?

[WendyS]

No really. Divorce can leave you emotionally distressed and consequently rather irrational. Also, you might commit to something that is either unfair, or not in your best long term interests because there were some legal issues of which you were unaware at the time.
If you want to go the DIY route to save money, I would still recommend you try and reach an amical agreement with your partner and then get a lawyer to legitimise it.

[Barmaid]

Me and my ex did our divorce ourselves. I remortgaged and bought him out of the house. We split up everything else between us over a period of weeks through talking and agreement. Only fees we had to pay were the court fees. 4 years later we still talk from time to time. I should also point out that I initially took legal advice, I was absolutely appalled at the way I was treated. The solicitor took NO NOTICE of what I was saying and instead was urging me to get him out of the house going to great lengths to explain I could get an injuntion if things got nasty!! (Things may have been unpleasant at the time, but my ex never laid a finger on me). She was also encouraging me to go for his pension - which was ludicrous as I was earning double what he was. She utterly failed to take on board the fact that I did not want to rip his intestines out. I am glad we did it the way we did - it was a dignified end to what was once a great relationship.

[bobbikay]

divorce is flat out WRONG!!!! how can you vow to love somebody forever and stay with them, and then break those vows? LIARS! LIARS i say!

[sophie_1003]

bobbikay the question was for advice not your opinion

[pitstopbunny]

I did a DIY one too, mind you we were lucky there was not much to divide etc. The only problem I had was getting my ex to acknowledge the paper work, but �10 to the baliff saw him served in person! It was very simple, cheap & 7 months to the day he left, I was divorced.
I guess it will depend on how helpful your ex feels on being, if you both want it sorted ASAP, it could be a good solution.

[Catso]

If you believe you can do it amiably, yes. Much quicker and easier and cheaper. As barmaid says, solicitors can be very unhelpful, ignoring what you tell them to do, and pursuing their own agenda.

But if you think there's going to be conflict, then you'll get on much better with solicitors. It'll all get too personal and heated, otherwise.

(Not done it myself, but supported a close friend during hers - she used a solicitor,. but wished she hadn't)

[happygam]

This is to bobbikay....don't be old fashioned - people get divorced for a reason - not everything is like a bed of roses in life - if a couple aint happy - they aint happy - marriage doesn't always last for ever - people are lucky when it does - but when you are taking those vows - you don't think that things might go wrong in the future - you just get on with it!!!!! Divorce, DIY or whichever way is not nice and is distressing, but if it has to be done, it has to be done - good luck cheekything!!

[spanner7853]

same as barmaid. my ex and I got the papers from the courts and did it ourselves. It was so much better but this can only work if you are agreeable on everything including access to children and child support if you have any. At the end of the day all though solicitors do a good job they will fight tooth and nail for what you are owed which can cause a lot of animosity in an already stressful time. I'd say if you are on talking terms and get on well and plan to stay that way then diy divorce is probably a better option. Good luck x