Are you in the process of going through a divorce? No matter how amicable you think the process will be, a divorce is always complicated. It is important for you to reach out to an expert who can help you, as it is critical to have some objective advice on your side. That is why you need to reach out to a lawyer, and do not forget to consider divorce mediation in Los Angeles. Every divorce is different, but as long as you reach out to a professional, you can put your case in the best position possible to be successful. What are a few of the most important tips you need to consider when you are going through a divorce?
1. Find the Right Lawyer
One of the most important steps you need to follow is to hire the right lawyer. Even though every lawyer goes to law school, not every attorney practices divorce law. For example, there are some attorneys who focus on criminal law, while other lawyers might focus on immigration law. Then, there are some lawyers who focus on personal injury law, while other lawyers might focus on family law. If you’re going through a marriage separation, you’ll need to look for the best family lawyer you can find, though you must ensure that they also specialize in handling divorces.
Generally, lawyers will post their practice areas on their websites. That is the very least you need to check if you are trying to find an attorney who can take your case. A few additional tips you need to follow when you are looking for a lawyer who can help you with your divorce include:
- You should take a look at reviews and ratings that have been left by prior clients. If other people have had a good experience with that lawyer, there is a good chance you will have a positive experience as well.
- Do not forget to ask the lawyer if he or she has time to take your case. You may have found the best lawyer in the world, but if they don’t have time to take your case, they are not going to be of much use to you.
- If the lawyer says that he or she does not have time to give your case the attention it requires, sees if the lawyer will provide you with a referral to another attorney.
- You may also want to ask the lawyer for a list of prior case results. Take a look at prior cases, and if they have turned out well, you may have found the right attorney to help you.
These tips will help you get started when you are looking for a lawyer. You need to hire a divorce attorney who can help you navigate potential legal issues and fill out paperwork appropriately.
2. Be Cooperative and Amicable
No matter how angry you might be at your spouse, it is important for you to be amicable, cooperative, and understanding. If you try to be uncooperative or evasive, other people are going to get frustrated with you. This includes not only your spouse but also your lawyer and the judge who might have to handle your case. Understand that everyone is working toward the same outcome, and your spouse probably wants the divorce to come to a conclusion as quickly as possible.
Therefore, try not to be evasive. If there are questions that you need to answer, answer them appropriately, but make sure your lawyer is present. If the judge asks you a question, don’t give them a snide answer. Try to be honest and straightforward. If you are difficult, evasive, and uncooperative, it is only going to lengthen the divorce process. As a result, your divorce might get more expensive in the long run.
3. Always Anticipate Potential Issues
Your lawyer is only going to know what you tell him or her. You need to be honest about potential issues that could come up. If you know that there is something that could complicate the divorce, you need to provide this information ahead of time.
For example, if you have bank accounts that your spouse doesn’t know about, you need to talk about this with your lawyer. Your lawyer needs to know if you have multiple properties that could complicate a divorce. If there have been legal issues in the past that have complicated your marriage, make sure you tell your lawyer. These are potentially serious issues that might make the entire divorce proceeding more complex. If your lawyer can anticipate these issues ahead of time, he or she might be able to avoid or overcome them. The more notice you give your lawyer, the better the situation will be for you and your divorce.
4. Be Honest About Disclosures
Your lawyer is going to ask you to disclose all of your assets. This includes not only your bank account but also anything else of value. This includes cars, property, retirement accounts, and anything else that might have a monetary value. Even though divorce laws can vary from state to state, most locations will prohibit you from concealing assets during divorce proceedings.
Remember that just because you are required to disclose your assets doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to lose them. There are some assets that might not be considered marital property, so they might not have to be divided.
Just as you need to disclose your assets, you need to disclose your debts as well. This refers to any money that you might owe to someone else. This includes a mortgage, car loan, credit card debt, and student loans. Just as assets have to be divided during a divorce, debt has to be divided as well. Make sure you do not hide anything from your lawyer, as it will only complicate the process.
5. Do Not Weaponize Your Children
Every divorce is complicated, but if there are children involved, the process will only get more difficult. Perhaps the only thing that you and your spouse can agree on is that you both love your children. You probably don’t want to lose your children, but it is important not to weaponize them.
What this means is that you should not try to convince your children to advocate for you over your spouse. Ultimately, the judge is going to do what is in the best interests of your children. If the judge believes you are poisoning your children against your spouse, that is not going to help you. Furthermore, it will only complicate the divorce, make it longer, and drive up the cost. Therefore, try to leave your children out of the process as much as possible. Do everything you can to provide them with a normal, straightforward life as the divorce moves forward.
6. Do Not Sell Any Major Assets
You should also try not to sell any major assets during the divorce proceeding. In addition, you should try not to open up any new credit cards if you can avoid it. Until the process is finalized, keep all of the assets you have. If you try to sell your assets, the court may view the process as disrespectful to the proceedings. The court may even feel like you are trying to sell assets and spend the money to prevent the other person from accessing them. Even though this might not be the case, it is best to avoid the question altogether. Once you provide your lawyer with a list of assets, try not to change them.
7. Ask Questions
Finally, you need to make sure that you ask any questions that you might have. There are a lot of people who do not want to ask questions because they feel like they should already know the answer. If you didn’t go to law school, you shouldn’t know the answer to the question. There is no such thing as a dumb question, and your lawyer is there to help you.
No matter how minor you think the question might be, you need to talk to your attorney about it. You may not think the question is a big deal, but it could end up as a major issue at the end of the process. If you have questions, talk to your lawyer. Their job is to advocate for your rights and your best interests.
Work With an Attorney Who Can Help You
Ultimately, these are just a few of the most important tips you need to keep in mind if you are going through a divorce. Even though a divorce can be stressful, you never have to go through this process alone. You may want to reach out to friends and family members who can provide you with support during the process, but don’t forget that you should also reach out to a divorce lawyer who can help you navigate the situation. That way, you can focus on other aspects of your life while your attorney makes sure your rights are protected. The sooner you reach out to a lawyer, the faster you can put the entire process behind you.
