10 Reasons Why You Need a Divorce Lawyer: Part 7

 Posted on May 23, 2014 in Family Law

Reason 7: Free advice isn't free and may be useless (or worse).

Sometimes your best friend, or parent will give you completely wrong advice because they are emotionally involved or simply too blind to see the truth because they want the best for you but are not educated in the ways of Illinois divorce law.

Or, it's on the Internet so it must be true. How often have we heard that? There are many articles, blogs and statements made on the Internet regarding Illinois divorce that are simply untrue, misleading, or the author lacks the experience to portray the total picture.

Medical doctors don't treat their own illnesses for reason: They want an objective third-party opinion by a professional who has had years of experience in that area of medicine and a deep knowledge of the illness that needs treatment. A medical doctor wouldn't go to an ear doctor if he had a foot problem. Would you have surgery performed by a surgeon if you were that surgeons first patient?

Yet Illinois does not require a lawyer to go through a divorce internship or residency program as a doctor is required to do. There is no special certification or testing of a Illinois lawyer to determine his or her fitness to practice divorce law. Any lawyer with a license to practice law in Illinois can practice divorce law, and they do. No wonder the majority of divorce cases are handled by general practitioners who's practices are not concentrated in Illinois divorce law.

In fact in Illinois it is expressly forbidden for a lawyer to advertise or hold themselves out as a "expert" or as someone "specializing" in divorce law or family law. Therefore, it is particularly crucial to choose a lawyer who has had a long and successful career in practicing divorce law. A good divorce lawyer has a working knowledge and experience in Illinois divorce law in the same way a highly trained medical doctor has of that area of medicine he practices.

Our lawyers at Martoccio & Martoccio have had many years of experience in the practice of Illinois divorce law representing clients of all economic and social levels in complex and simple divorces. Call us for free consultation.  While the consultation itself maybe free to you, the advice that we give has been earned by us over many years of practice and experience in Illinois divorce law.

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