Divorce is one of the most difficult, complex experiences that a family can go through. It is often emotionally turbulent and can cause serious financial risks, including paying alimony or child support and dividing property. A divorce attorney can help you navigate the process and protect your interests. There are many different types of divorce lawyers, however, and finding the right one to meet your needs can be challenging. Some factors to consider include their expertise, approach and cost.
A qualified and experienced divorce attorney can handle most of the legal paperwork and procedures involved in a divorce, including drafting marital settlement agreements, filing for custody and visitation, requesting financial documents (like pay stubs), and submitting tax records. They can also explain your options regarding property division, child and spousal support, and other issues related to the dissolution of your marriage.
Hiring a lawyer can save you time and stress by allowing you to concentrate on your emotional and psychological healing. They can also act as an objective third party during emotionally charged proceedings, helping you stay levelheaded and working toward a fair resolution. Divorce attorneys are skilled at presenting their cases to judges and can see the big picture when it comes to property division, spousal and child support, and other issues. They can also offer options that you may not have considered.
Choosing the right attorney can be challenging, but it is important to find someone with whom you are comfortable sharing personal details and your perspective of your situation. You want to be able to trust and bond with your lawyer, especially if children are involved, so that they can provide you with the most comprehensive and effective representation possible.
An experienced and qualified divorce attorney can also guide you through the process of creating a premarital agreement. These contracts can prevent conflict and confusion in the event of a divorce by specifying each spouse’s assets, liabilities, and financial expectations. A premarital agreement can also make it easier to settle disagreements during the divorce process, including property division, child custody, and alimony.
While most divorces settle out of court (90% to 98% of them), those that do go to trial are typically lengthy and complex. Both parties’ lawyers must prepare a case summary, call witnesses, and provide opening and closing statements in front of the judge.
While you don’t need to list a specific reason, such as physical abuse or an extramarital affair, for your divorce, a judge will take that misconduct into account when determining property division and custody decisions. However, a judge will only consider this type of misconduct when it can impact the rights and best interests of the children. For example, a parent’s misconduct might have a negative effect on the mental, emotional and physical well-being of the children, resulting in a worsened living situation for them. In these circumstances, a judge might award more alimony or custody to the other spouse. Scheidungsanwalt Hattingen