Divorce Do’s and Don’ts
If you are a party in a divorce case,
there are things you should do and things that you should avoid. By being
mindful of your words and actions during a divorce, you can improve your
chances of receiving your desired outcome. Because each divorce case is unique,
you should confer with your attorney before taking any action.
What should you do in a divorce case?
During the divorce process, following are a few general suggestions of what you
should do:
- Contact an attorney: an attorney will provide you with legal advice and can represent you in court. By working with an attorney, you will have an advocate on your behalf to assist you in the process.
- Be careful about what you do and say during a divorce, your words and actions may be under scrutiny. Be careful about what you say, text, and post online. Make sound decisions and avoid doing things that could be detrimental to your case.
- Be respectful and professional: when you are in court, dress appropriately (a suit for men and clean pressed slacks for women; no jeans ever). be respectful to the judge and other court staff. Be professional in your words, actions and appearance. By showing respect, you will hopefully gain the respect of the judge.
- Be thorough and organized: as you gather information and prepare for divorce hearings, gather as much information as possible. The more detail you can provide, the less work your attorney has to do, and the less your fees will be.. Organize your information, so as to make your case more efficient.
What you should not do in a divorce
The following are things you should avoid doing in a divorce:
- Don’t lie or misrepresent: if the truth is revealed, even on a small and seemingly meaningless matter, it could ruin your credibility to the judge
- Don’t be rude or combative: It will get you nowhere with your spouse, your spouse’s attorney, and most important, with the court. Don’t say or do dumb things (like run up credit card charges for massages, trips with a paramour, and fancy restaurants, non a card which your spouse is obligated to pay. while it may be difficult to give in to the conflict of a divorce, keep a level head and made good decisions
- Don’t represent yourself: The Court does not favor the unrepresented, and will not provide advice. Representing yourself is the best example of being penny wise and pound foolish.
At Fass & Greenberg our Garden City NY divorce lawyers can provide legal advice and representation. Call us to learn more.
