Do I need a lawyer if I'm getting a divorce?

Can you really handle your own divorce without a lawyer?

In this episode, Simon Fenton puts that exact question to family law specialist Chris Sutton, and the answer is far more complicated than most people expect. While the divorce process itself might seem straightforward, the hidden legal and financial risks lurking beneath the surface can follow people for years after they think everything is settled.

From future financial claims to poorly drafted agreements, this conversation reveals why “simple” divorces often aren’t as simple as they first appear. The discussion explores real-world examples where DIY divorces and online legal documents created major problems years later, including cases reopened over a decade after separation. There’s also a timely warning about relying too heavily on AI-generated legal paperwork and why convincing-looking documents can still be dangerously wrong.

For anyone considering divorce, trying to save money on legal fees, or wondering whether they really need professional advice, this episode offers eye-opening insight into the things most people don’t realise until it’s too late.

Key Takeaways

• Why divorce and financial settlement are two very different things
• The hidden risk of “simple” DIY divorces
• How future life changes can reopen old claims
• The costly loopholes buried in poorly drafted agreements
• Why AI-generated legal documents may not be what they seem
• The small legal steps that could prevent years of problems later