Divorce: Learning More about the Law

When going through a family law breakup or divorce, you should educate yourself as much as possible regarding the law and the facts of your particular case. The problem with this, however, is that there is not always a lot of easily accessible information on the Internet that is sufficiently detailed to be of good use to you. While you may be able find specific statutes and or case law on a particular issue, it may be the case that this will take you a number of hours to pinpoint.

There are a number of reasons for this. Probably chief among them is that it is very difficult to put this information on a website due to the complexity of compiling it, in addition to the fact that each state has its own laws and case law meaning that such an effort would have to be duplicated over a huge number of states before it is possible to have a truly definitive place for people interested in learning more about the laws associated with divorce. Moreover, this information would have to be updated with some degree of regularity in order that it will not become stale so that it will still be of use to the general public.

Because of the aforementioned reasons, such information on divorce will likely have to be written by an attorney who is familiar with such a practice area and has the time to dedicate to making this a reality. This lawyer may feel also that by giving a step-by-step overview and a detailed analysis of law on divorce, they will no longer be needed and that clients will simply resolve the issues themselves.

In response to this, it is sometimes better that a client resolve the issues themselves without having to resort to professional legal counsel especially with regard to family law. This is certainly not to say that is advisable for client to represent him or herself in court without the presence of a lawyer to assist. Rather it is simply saying that with sufficient information on the issue that is before them perhaps they can work out an amicable solution with the other side prior to litigation. This being said, it may be the case that such information would be supplemented by a consultation with a lawyer prior to making a decision regarding whatever legal issue is that they face.

Another reason a lawyer practicing divorce may decide not to publish a comprehensive study of the law, is that they're not being paid to do so and that this is simply being done as a service to the public. While this is true, lawyers often engage in pro bono work and being able to assist the general public with a greater understanding of the law should be able to bring a lawyer and least some rewards, even if they are not financial in nature.

Will Beaumont is a lawyer in New Orleans. This article is strictly informational and not legal advice.