Further reasons to use a lawyer regarding even the most simple dissolution of marriage. Why?

Because of the HUGE post-divorce ways that you can screw-up your life. Two things I see, one all the time and a new one from this week.

First, child support obligors who don't understand how child support works. They fail to stop the support in the event of a job loss or an income decrease and next thing you know they're 20,000 behind in child support payments.

Second, saw this one up close this week, it was a mother who frankly didn't understand mediation. Long story short is that she refused to attend mediation with her former husband as was required by the joint parenting agreement. One thing she did was send her son to another country without the approval of the father and she refused to mediate the issue. She ended up getting held in contempt of court and paying the father's attorneys fees.

A judgment for dissolution of marriage is a document with staying power...sometimes for 20+ years. It's not a one time thing get it entered and done. One must know how to "use" the judgment or you can get trapped (and worse)!