When you receive a divorce petition from your spouse, it is your responsibility to respond. The way in which you respond, however, depends on what your spouse asks of the court in the petition and your own personal circumstances. It is best to retain an attorney as soon as possible when you receive a divorce petition. Your attorney can advise…
Whether you are paying or receiving alimony as part of the terms of your divorce, there are some records you should hold on to that could be important down the line in the event of a dispute. Here is a quick overview of those records you should keep. For the alimony payer If you are paying alimony, you should keep…
One of the most important steps you take early on in the divorce process is hiring your attorney. This can be an understandably difficult process — you have likely never hired an attorney before and may be feeling stressed out about the prospect of going through the divorce. Fortunately, a good lawyer will be right by your side throughout the…
A counterclaim is a chance for you to submit your own requests in writing about what type of outcome you would like to see in your divorce regarding issues such as property division, child custody and child support. You would submit the counterclaim after your spouse files the initial divorce petition. The following are some tips for writing a sound…
Unless you settle your divorce case extremely quickly, there’s a decent chance you will have to go to a deposition, to be scheduled by your spouse’s attorney. During a deposition the attorney will ask you a series of questions, which will have been agreed to by you and your attorney. A court reporter will place you under oath, and you…
Expert witnesses play a significant role in divorce cases, as they can lend insight into a person’s financial, medical or emotional situation. But what about character witnesses? Character witnesses are often used in criminal cases as a way to portray a defendant in a positive light. Can they also be helpful or make a difference in divorce trials? It is…
Many people suffer damage to their credit score after going through a divorce, but it is not the divorce itself that causes that damage. What exactly does cause a dip in credit among some divorcees? Below is a quick overview. Financial troubles after a divorce The process of getting a divorce has no influence on your credit score. However, many…
Most of the time, if one spouse is able to pay for an attorney but the other is not, the court will direct the spouse that earns more money to at least partially contribute money to pay for the other’s attorney’s fees. However, it behooves your spouse to agree upfront to pay you some of these funds, as it will…
In some cases, a divorce court may include stipulations stating that one spouse is responsible for paying debt on credit cards that were taken out in their former spouse’s name. Of course, the concern then becomes that the ex-spouse will take advantage of this arrangement and rack up massive bills in the hopes that you will not notice and will…
Many people expect there to be some growing pains when getting remarried with minor children in the picture. However, many of these same transitional and emotional issues can also be a factor if you or your spouse have any adult children. While adult children are going to be better able to emotionally process the transition, they are still human and…