On behalf of The Marks Law Firm, L.L.C posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The internet can look like an inexhaustible source of information on just about any subject. Look up virtually anything on Google and you will get thousands and thousands of explanations, definitions, arguments, counterarguments, essays and theories.
You’ll get even more information than that on the subject of divorce from friends and relatives when you them your marriage is ending. That’s what Forbes columnist Jeff Landers says in his latest missive on divorce and women. Landers says his best advice as a divorce professional is this: ignore the advice of amateurs when it comes to legal and financial issues involving divorce, child custody and child support issues.
Landers says your family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances very likely all mean well when they offer unsolicited divorce advice. The problem is that the vast majority of them have no specific training in the complex world of Missouri divorce law.
He says it’s important to understand that every person’s divorce is unique. Just because something worked for your uncle or co-worker doesn’t mean it’s right, proper or applicable to your case.
There is no cookie cutter approach for divorce, especially those involving difficult child custody disputes.
People sometimes insist that their cousin the bookkeeper or sister the nurse or brother the police officer have all been divorced and know the ins and outs of the legal problems divorce involves.
Landers makes his counterargument this way: “let’s say your cousin is a brilliant orthopedic surgeon. Would you follow his advice if you needed cardiac care? Of course not!”
Nor should you take your cousin’s, sister’s or brother’s advice, no matter how smart and savvy they might be. They’re not trained in helping people navigate complex divorce law and difficult negotiations.
He says in divorce, it’s best to lean on the wisdom of those who have been there and done that successfully.
Source: Forbes: “Warning: Don’t Let Friends, Family or Non-Divorce Professionals Give You Divorce” by Jeff Landers: Sept. 7, 2011