Top

Divorce in Nevada: Can I Represent Myself and Save Money?

A young man sitting at a table

There is a sense of pride that a lot of people feel when they save money. From combining coupons to do it yourself home repair, it feels good to know that you paid less than you should have. It isn’t unusual to carry these thoughts into a divorce, and saving money by representing yourself. We need to warn you that there are incredible pitfalls to this approach—and just because you can choose to represent yourself does not mean you should.

In this country, everyone has the right to self-representation in legal proceedings. It is also referred to as pro se representation. For example, it is not uncommon for people to represent themselves in an uncontested divorce where there are no children, modest incomes, and little to no property. With those circumstances, pro se representation can be entirely appropriate, particularly if the parties simply cannot afford an attorney. However, this is not universally true.

If you have children or high assets and are considering a divorce, you need to utilize the knowledge and experience of a family lawyer to protect your significant legal rights. Divorce laws in Nevada are complex and the stakes are incredibly high when it comes to the custody of your children and your financial future.

For example, Nevada is a “community property” state, which means that both spouses have an equal interest in all property acquired or earned during a marriage. The classification of community versus separate property is a critical issue, as is the appropriate appraisal of property. We utilize our knowledge of ever-evolving community property laws, as well as a variety of experts to ensure that our clients don’t leave property on the table when their marriages end.

Further, alimony awards can be unpredictable because courts have broad discretion in the types of evidence they consider. Our attorneys understand what evidence courts find the most compelling and can fight to ensure that our clients are not paying far more than they should in spousal support, or are not receiving far less than they should.

And for parents, nothing is more important than the issue of child custody. If you cannot reach an agreement as to custody and visitation with the other parent, then you will need to ask a court to make those decisions. Courts make these determinations based on a child’s “best interest.” This is too important an issue to take risks. Our attorneys understand how to effectively fight for a parent’s custodial rights within the context of this best interest determination.

While a person may initially save some money by representing themselves, they may end up spending far more to fix problems that could have been avoided, if the problems can be fixed at all.

Contact Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P.

If you are facing the end of your marriage, don’t take unnecessary risks. Contact Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman, L.L.P. Our attorneys are smart, experienced, and effective. We will listen to you and provide you with custom tailored legal advice. You have considerable legal rights when it comes to your parental rights, money, property. Let us help you. Call Viloria, Oliphant, Oster & Aman L.L.P. at (775) 227-2280 to schedule a consultation or contact our office through our website.

Categories: 
Related Posts
  • Can You Keep a Divorce Private in Nevada? Read More
  • Postnuptial Agreements for Nevada Couples Read More
  • Tax Implications of Divorce in Nevada Read More
/