A divorce is a major life event with many significant changes. Whether you have children or not, a divorce is a long process that involves several issues such as property division, child custody arrangements and spousal support. The best way to ensure that you receive a fair settlement is to hire an experienced Divorce Lawyer.
There are a number of things you should do in order to assist your St. Louis divorce lawyer and to get the most out of your case. First, be sure to Xerox all documents and financial records relating to your case. This includes tax returns, bills that are lying around the house, credit card statements, mortgages, bank accounts and any other documentation pertaining to assets or liabilities. Also, make a list of any debts you have incurred as well as those incurred by your spouse.
It is important to have a clear picture of your assets and liabilities in order to properly evaluate your position during the divorce proceeding. In addition, your New York Divorce Lawyer will need to know your financial status in order to negotiate a fair outcome. If your spouse attempts to hide assets or liabilities from you, this is illegal and your New York divorce attorney should take steps through a process called discovery to uncover such information.
You should interview several NY divorce lawyers on the phone or in person before selecting the one who will represent you. Be wary of any attorney who rushes you through your initial interview or continually interrupts to take another telephone call. You will be spending a significant amount of time with your attorney during the course of your case and you want to be sure that they are acting in your best interests.
When you work with an experienced New York divorce attorney, you can rest assured that your case will be handled in a professional and efficient manner. The attorney will gather all of the necessary information relating to your assets, liabilities, and income and will submit this information to the court for review. Your lawyer will also prepare all of the required legal paperwork related to your case, including but not limited to divorce papers, support orders, child custody agreements and a parenting plan.
The final decision will be made by a judge based upon the evidence presented to him or her. The judge will review the information and make a decision on property division, child custody, spousal support and child visitation. The court will also consider the financial situation of each party in making a decision. The court will then issue a Decree of Dissolution of Marriage.