There’s a lot to be said for embracing a do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos. DIYers develop useful skills, sometimes discover new hobbies, and often save a great deal of money. But while plenty of DIY projects can reduce upfront costs and bring personal fulfillment, there are some things you should never, ever do yourself.

Giving your house a fresh coat of paint? Go for it!

Brewing beer in your garage? Sure—why not?

Handling your own divorce proceedings? Not a great idea.

In a recent newsletter, our colleagues at the Stevens Firm in South Carolina dig into the alarming and ill-advised trend of “DIY divorces.” Thanks to the rise of self-serve legal document providers (such as LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer), more and more people are attempting to manage divorces on their own—and their families are paying dearly for it. We’re not just referring to the significant financial costs down the line, but serious issues related to child custody and support.

The attorneys write:

“These services also try to sell clients a child custody and support agreement, which is dangerous because these stock forms don’t allow for variances in a specific case—especially those that involve children. There is no single document that can cover all the unique needs of you and your children.”

You can read the full article, “The Danger of DIY Divorces,” by clicking here.

Looking to handle a divorce or another family legal matter in the best way possible? Don’t rely on a simple document retrieval service. Offit Kurman’s Family Law attorneys are dedicated to resolving conflicts and protecting your and your family’s interests in a fast, straightforward, and cost-effective manner. See for yourself what we can do for you.

ABOUT CHERYL L. HEPFER

chepfer@offitkurman.com  |  240.507.1752

Cheryl Hepfer is a highly-regarded attorney who has practiced family law for more than 40 years.  She has been rated by her peers and is listed in Best Lawyers in America and as a top lawyer in the Washingtonian, Bethesda Magazine, and Super Lawyers.  She is past president of both the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

ABOUT SANDRA A. BROOKS

sbrooks@offitkurman.com  |  240.507.1716

As a family law attorney, Sandra (Sandy) Brooks’ practice focuses on a wide range of aspects in regards to family law. She dedicates her time to assisting clients in domestic law matters including divorce, child custody and visitation, family mediation, spousal and child support, property division, and division of retirement benefits. Other matters that fall under her jurisdiction as a family law attorney include tax consequences of divorce, mediation, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, negotiating and drafting of separation agreements, domestic litigation, and post-judgment proceedings.

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the mid-Atlantic region. With over 185 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our twelve offices serve individual and corporate clients along the I95 corridor in the Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City regions. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.

Find out why Offit Kurman is The Better Way to protect your business, your assets and your family by connecting via our Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn pages. You can also sign up to receive Law Matters, Offit Kurman’s monthly newsletter covering a diverse selection of legal and corporate thought leadership content.

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