Divorce lawyers offer legal advice and services that assist people with navigating issues related to divorce such as custody, alimony and property division. While some specialize exclusively in family law services for their clients, other firms also provide divorce related legal assistance as part of a wider practice.
Clients should come prepared with financial documents such as pay stubs, year-end tax statements and expenses such as childcare or tuition costs to make their first meeting more productive with an attorney.
Legal Representation
Divorce cases involve complex legal matters such as property division, spousal support and child custody arrangements. Divorce attorneys examine and analyze these issues for their clients in order to protect their legal interests. Listening closely to each spouse’s account of their situation and objectives before providing advice about possible courses of action they could take is also part of the service offered by these professionals.
Dependent upon the nature of the divorce, an attorney might also assist with filing necessary court paperwork – including divorce summons, separation agreements and other forms that help clarify and settle marital matters.
Some lawyers offer limited scope representation that includes a flat fee for certain aspects of a case. This approach can save money and may be suitable for couples who agree on major points such as child custody and financial support, however an attorney who withholds information can develop strategies which are ineffective or even detrimental to his client, so it’s vital that communication between attorney and client be honest and open throughout this process.
Document Preparation
Divorce attorneys are responsible for compiling the necessary paperwork associated with a divorce proceeding, such as an original petition for divorce, respondent’s initial answer to it, the final decree of divorce and documentation regarding property ownership.
Additionally, your attorney will prepare financial documents pertaining to your case such as pay stubs, tax returns and property value information. They may also offer legal advice regarding spousal support or child custody payments that may be applicable.
Your attorney may suggest mediation or arbitration as alternatives to litigation; these alternatives tend to be less expensive and more effective for both sides.
Your lawyer may recommend hiring a child custody evaluator to assess your children’s needs and make recommendations to the court. It is crucial for clients to remain open and honest throughout this process as withholding information could hurt your case; be up front about expectations and goals as part of your divorce proceedings.
Negotiation
Negotiation is a tool used by lawyers and their clients alike to resolve legal disputes without court intervention. Negotiations involves using their knowledge of law and experience in helping reach an agreement without legal proceedings being necessary. Negotiations can occur in person, over the phone, or written correspondence; successful negotiation involves both giving concessions as well as receiving them; to be successful, you need both parties staying calm while listening closely for concerns of both sides; silence can help bring decorum and rationality into emotionally charged negotiations.
Divorce attorneys are expert negotiators in several key areas, such as property division, child custody and visitation rights negotiations and support payments for both spousal support and child support payments. Divorce lawyers also can help their clients avoid litigation by suggesting mediation or collaborative divorce as alternative processes to court-ordered proceedings; litigation is costly and lengthy so mediation or collaborative divorce may be preferable – however if contested divorce must go to trial they are capable of creating compelling court arguments to present before judges.
Litigation
Divorce lawyers provide clients with assistance for various aspects of divorce proceedings, such as child custody and property division. Additionally, they may provide legal advice regarding other issues like domestic abuse and drug dependency issues.
Divorce attorneys excel in presenting their cases before judges and seeing the big picture when faced with complex legal situations. Based on past experience handling similar cases, they can anticipate how courts might rule in such instances.
As clients work towards finalizing their divorce proceedings, it is essential that they remain honest and open with their attorney. Withholding information can harm their case as well as settlement options.
Attorneys can serve as mediators, helping spouses reach an amicable settlement without court involvement. This form of limited scope representation often costs less than hiring an entire legal team for the process; however, mediators cannot represent both parties in a divorce but only act as an impartial third party facilitator of communication between both sides of a disagreement.