People who go through a divorce are usually financially, mentally, and emotionally drained. A highly experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorney can help make the complicated process a lot easier. Below are some of the primary duties and roles that a trained divorce lawyer can perform:
1. Give evenhanded advice. Talking to a divorce lawyer can help the process less emotional. With the aid of such a professional, you can be enlightened with some life-changing situations. By discussing child custody and support problems, you will be thinking less of your marriage’s end. A divorce lawyer can serve as a bridge between you and your spouse to minimize personal interaction between the two of you. This lowers stress levels in both parties.
2. Elaborate the grounds. Each state has set grounds for divorce that enable one of the spouses to exercise the right to petition their marriage’s dissolution at court. Fault-based grounds such as incarceration, abuse, adultery, or cruel treatment. On the other hand, all states acknowledge no-fault grounds. Other states mandate the spouses to live in separate residences for a period before the court of each party abrogates the marriage. A good divorce lawyer also can also advise if the marriage should be annulled instead of divorced.
3. Clarify property division. Each party may have separate assets that they incorporated into the marriage or there could have been pre-nuptial agreement. Property division is often discussed as the divorce process happens. A divorce lawyer can explain how this process happens and can even help with the accounting.
4. Ascertain benefits such as spousal support. The help of a divorce lawyer is required in assessing the support that the spouse should receive or pay. The court can order spousal support if the other spouse stopped pursuing a career to support the other’s and when the divorcing parties have different levels of income. If done correctly, a spouse may end up entitled to a percentage of the other spouse’s business. A spouse may also be entitled to the other spouse’s Social Security stipend if the marriage lasted for at least 10 years.
5. Take care of divorce documents. Formal documents must be drawn for a couple to get divorced. It must be submitted to the right court for approval. A good divorce lawyer can help the client prepare the said documents or even respond to the petition placed by the other spouse.
6. Negotiate a settlement. Rather than fighting in court, a divorce lawyer can help arrange a settlement, which is faster and less expensive.
7. Represent at court. If needed, the divorce lawyer can help litigate the case. This may be required to settle the divorce, child custody, or spousal support.
A trained divorce lawyer can do all these for the client to make sure the aggravated client receives what is due. Divorce is an exhausting endeavor. Be sure to hire a reputable divorce lawyer that can help you end your marriage the right way.