Do you actually need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?

If you and your spouse agree on the terms and your situation is straightforward, you generally don't need to pay a lawyer by the hour to end your marriage. The court doesn't require it, and the forms are the same ones an attorney would file.

That said, be honest with yourself about complexity. If there's a family business, significant or hidden assets, a big disagreement about custody, or any history of abuse, that's a signal to talk to a licensed attorney in your state before going further.

A self-help service like ours is built for the common, amicable case: two people who've decided it's over and want to handle it with dignity and without a fortune in fees. When your situation calls for a lawyer, the right move is to say so plainly, not to sell you paperwork.