What Is The Divorce Process Actually Like?

Another common reason is if your partner has an affair and has been unfaithful, you may be left with a feeling of betrayal and if you feel that you can no longer trust them, this will have a negative impact on your marriage.

When to seek the advice of a lawyer?

If all else fails and you decide that a divorce is your only option, you will probably need to find a lawyer to represent you.

If you don't have any marital assets in the way of property or cash or there are no children involved, the divorce will be straight forward and you most probably don't need to hire a lawyer. You will be able to go through a divorce court and both make an agreement to give up any rights of support from your partner. If on the other hand you do have financial ties together and or there are children involved, this will make it more complicated and it is advisable that you enlist the help of a lawyer who specializes in Divorce Law.

Not all divorces will be the same and they usually fall into two main categories:

In an uncontested divorce, both parties are in agreement, they will enter into the divorce amicably and solve their problems without disagreement. An uncontested divorce is a lot less expensive than a contested divorce as it will usually not be necessary for the case to be taken to court, this will help to keep the cost down by avoiding court costs and legal fees.

In a Contested divorce, if the spouses can’t come to an agreement on one or more issues of their divorce such as the custody of children, how much financial support will be given to your spouse and the financial settlement of a house and or assets, it will be necessary for both parties to find the representation of a lawyer.  The case will be taken to court where a judge will make the final decision on the case put forward. This can be a long and costly process and is often quite distressing for all involved.

Even after a verdict has been reached by a judge, an appeal can be made if one party does not agree with the judgment. This in turn can result in an increased cost and stress to the people involved.

If you do need a lawyer to represent your case, it is advisable to choose one who has experience in divorce law and has who has worked on cases with a similar situation to yours. Here is the checklist of a few questions you may want to ask:

1. What will the charges be, will you pay an hourly rate or will you also need to pay an amount of money upfront in order for them to take on your case? Do they anticipate any additional costs other than their own?

2. Do they specialize in Divorce Law and has the lawyer worked on cases with a similar situation to yours and what were the outcomes? Will they be the sole person you deal with or will other members of their practice be involved in the case?

3. How long do they envision the case to take before an agreement is reached?