What to Expect From Your Divorce Lawyer

[Kate Felicity]

If you’re planning to divorce and need help with child custody, child support, spousal support or division of marital property, you will need a lawyer. Your lawyer will need specific information to start the case, so it is important that you come prepared for your first meeting.

You should bring a list of assets, how they are owned (individually or jointly), values on the date of the marriage, and current value. Also, bring a list of debts and liabilities.
Child Custody

Custody of a child is an extremely important issue in a divorce. It may be one of the first things that a court decides, and it can impact your child's future in many ways.

The courts will take a number of factors into consideration to decide on custody and visitation. These include each parent's lifestyle and stability, the ability of each parent to care for the children, and more.

In some cases, a court will order a forensic evaluation of the family. This will be a professional, such as a psychologist, who will interview the parents and the children to make a recommendation to the judge.

If a parent wants to change custody or visitation, he or she must prove that there has been a significant change in the child's circumstances since the last order and that this change is in the children's best interests. A change in custody or visitation can be very difficult to achieve, and it is advisable to hire an experienced attorney to help you navigate the process.
Child Support

In divorce cases, there are often multiple issues that need to be resolved. One of the most complex involves child support.

Child support is a legal obligation that is ordered by a court, and if you are behind on payments or owe a large amount of money, it may be time to seek help from a child support attorney in your area. The consequences can be harsh if you fail to comply with the terms of a support order, so it’s important to act as soon as possible.

Many states have child support guidelines that outline how much the parent paying support should be required to pay. However, these guidelines are often only a starting point for negotiations between parents.

A good family law attorney may be able to negotiate a lower amount that reflects your actual income. They may also be able to file for a modification of the child support order, especially if your circumstances have changed significantly.
Property Division

When a couple goes through divorce, they are usually concerned about how their property will be divided. This is because property division will have a direct impact on their future financial stability and retirement planning.

The goal of every property division divorce is to produce a fair outcome. This means that the assets and debts of the couple will be distributed between the spouses in a way that makes sense under the circumstances in the case.

However, not every asset or debt is easy to classify and value. This is why you need an experienced divorce lawyer to help you through the process.

One of the first things you and your lawyer will do is make a complete list of all your assets. This will include all of your cash, investments, and real estate.
Spousal Support

If a spouse does not work or earns much less than the other spouse during or after a divorce, they may be entitled to spousal support. This is often called alimony or maintenance, and it helps maintain the standard of living that the spouse enjoyed before the marriage.

Family law courts usually look at a number of factors to decide whether spousal support should be awarded and how much it should be paid. These factors include the spouse’s ability to pay, the length of the marriage, their age and health, education level, and the number of children.

Once a support order is issued, it cannot be modified unless there is a substantial change in circumstances. This is why it is important to contact a werribee Divorce lawyer when you need assistance with your support case.