Should I Skip Hiring a Divorce Lawyer Since we have a Simple Divorce?

It is tempting to hold off on hiring a lawyer to review your case or simply represent you when you feel like your divorce case is fairly simple and straightforward.  The problem is that a divorce can seem very simple on the surface, but the underlying effects of an order can be very far-reaching and many times the results are not what you anticipated.Even in situations where you and your spouse are working together amicably and have negotiated an agreement together, I would encourage you to seek legal counsel from a lawyer in your jurisdiction to make sure you fully understand the implications (explicit and implied) in your agreement.Here's a quick example.  Many times, after a separation the spouses tend to get along better than they were while they were living together.  This helps negotiations go smoothly.  During the negotiations it was agreed that Wife would have primary custody of the children and Husband would receive reasonable visitation with the children.  While you are working well together, this is probably ideal.  Husband most likely sees the children much more than a standard visitation schedule would allow.  But then things change when he brings home a girlfriend or Wife begins dating a boyfriend.  Sometimes these new relationships change the spouses' priorities and that once amicable relationship changes to something more hostile.  Now those reasonable visits that Husband was receiving look more like one time per month or whenever it works best for Wife - which is becoming less and less often.  Because Husband didn't realize he did not have a specific visitation/placement schedule he must file a new lawsuit to seek a specific schedule to ensure he can maintain his relationship with the children.Your case may not be about child custody.  Maybe it's about how to divide the equity in the home or how long one spouse will have to refinance the mortgage and remove you from the debt.  Maybe it is a more complex issue about the tax implications of dividing a qualified retirement account.You may save yourself a lot of money (and certainly some headaches) in the long run by going ahead and obtaining legal counsel on the front end.