For many people facing a divorce, it’s their very first time going through the process. If this is true for you–or even if you’ve been divorced before–don’t hesitate to look to your attorney for their knowledge and experience to help you throughout the process. As a client, you should expect the following three things to be offered to you by your family law attorney.
Some Creative Resolutions
No case is the same, and what works for one couple may not work for you. That’s why it’s important your attorney has some suggestions for creative solutions in your case. For example, you may have a decent relationship with your spouse right now despite the decision to end the marriage. In that scenario, immediately filing a divorce complaint may not be the best move. It may be wise to resolve the case before either party files with the help of your attorneys and possibly a mediator.
In some cases, a little creativity may be needed in the property division and support areas of your case. If, for example, your spouse will be paying spousal support but can’t afford the total monthly amount you feel you need, your attorney could propose a lower monthly support obligation but with a larger part of the annual employment bonus your spouse receives. A settlement agreement can be creative to help allow each party to reach financial goals or afford the payments, so your attorney should be able to offer you solutions that may not be the norm but could work in your case.
Talk to your attorney about some of the potential thorny issues in your case to see what they are able to come up with. A less experienced attorney may not be able to come up with out-of-the-box arrangements, which is why having an experienced attorney on your side is so important in your case.
Referrals to Experts You Need
In some situations, you may need experts to support your side of the case in the event of a trial or in certain disagreements. There are a variety of experts who can be involved in a divorce, including property appraisers, child custody experts, financial experts, and employment evaluators.
Your attorney should be able to offer you suggestions about which type of experts may be needed in your case, along with the names of professionals the attorney has used in the past. This allows you to access the professionals you need without having to conduct a search to find the right person.
Realistic Resolution Goals
Sometimes, clients get caught up in the emotion of the case and start making demands related to the settlement of property and custody. These demands may not be very realistic, and your attorney should tell you why a particular demand may not become a part of your final agreement. Your attorney has the experience and knowledge to help guide you toward more realistic resolutions in your case.
For example, if you are a stay-at-home parent and want to continue to do so via spousal support, it may not be possible if you are able to support yourself and if your spouse is unable to support two households. If this is the case, you want your attorney to tell you that. When an attorney allows unrealistic demands to continue, it will only harm you and likely drag out the divorce process.
Your family law attorney is an important part of your divorce case. Therefore, it’s important to choose an experienced attorney who will be able to give you the support, advice and assistance you need during this process.