Women who make the decision to seek a divorce will benefit from understanding what support and resources exist. Although women possess the right to file and pursue a divorce on their own, chances are their personal and legal interests are better protected if they take advantage of support resources available to them, according to "Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce" by Emily Doskow.
Types
Divorce support available to women includes professional legal representation. Another prime resource is professional emotional or psychological counseling or therapy. Finally, a sometimes overlooked resource available to women involved in a divorce is personal support from friends and family members.
Considerations
In considering what sources of support to take advantage of, a comprehensive approach may be most beneficial, according to "The Complete Divorce Handbook: A Practical Guide" by Brette McWhorter Sember." Legal rights and personal interests of women are likely best protected by coordinating legal representation with professional emotional assistance and personal support from friends and family members.
Benefits
Obtaining support during a during a divorce has several benefits. Women who take advantage of legal support are usually more able to make educated, intelligent decisions in the court proceedings. Women who take advantage of the emotional support offered by therapists and family and friends may find that they are able to maintain a healthy emotional and personal balance during the course of the divorce case. A woman's personal life does not become an emotional mess with divorce support, according to the American Bar Association Section of Family Law.
Misconceptions
Some women going through a divorce are under the misconception that marriage dissolution proceedings are not overly complex and that they can march through the case on their own. Court clerks usually do provide forms needed to pursue a divorce. Nonetheless, because of the legal and emotional complexities associated with the marriage dissolution, women put their rights and personal personal welfare at risk by avoiding professional and other types of support.
Cost
The expense of hiring a divorce attorney depends in part on how complicated the case is and how long the proceedings last. For women who cannot afford to hire a lawyer, the American Bar Association maintains contact information for organizations across the United States that provide no-cost legal representation. In a similar vein, women can engage the services of a counselor or therapist who charges less for services for those in financial hardship. If finances do not permit this type of assistance, there likely are organizations in a woman's community that provide counseling or therapy free of charge.
References
- "Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce"; Emily Doskow; 2008
- "The Complete Divorce Handbook: A Practical Guide"; Brette McWhorter Sember; 2009
- American Bar Association: Section of Family Law
