5 Things You Need To Discuss With Your Divorce Lawyer

Going through a divorce is an extremely depressing and eye-opening event in people’s lives. It is a time that they think back on their past deeds and decisions, which affected their relationship.

A divorce can be an overwhelming process. Divorcees struggle mentally and financially due to their divorce. The only real source of help that one can get access to in such a situation is their divorce lawyer or divorce attorney.

In order to make the most of your time and consultation, and in order to help them help you, listed below are five things you need to discuss with your divorce lawyer:

1. Property settlement

This refers to the settlement of marital property, which comprises the property and assets you and your significant other may have acquired over the years during your marriage. This may include your marital home, cars, furniture, equipment and jewelry, lands, building, company stocks, etc.

Depending upon whether you fall under community property or common law property, the settlement may differ and you may need to consult your lawyer accordingly. Either one of the spouses could retain the entire property or both could share interest and ownership.

2. Child support and custody

When a couple separates, they are legally supposed to provide financial support for their child until they reach the age of 18 years. Just how much each parent is supposed to contribute in child custody depends on either the court reaching an agreement or the couple deciding on a written agreement.

The parents’ financial status, their income, the allocation of parenting time and state laws are some of the governing factors that decide the amount of child support payments.

3. Spousal support

Alimony is one the crucial parts of any divorce agreement. The courts may consider the length of the marriage, the age of the spouses, their physical and mental condition, their standard of living and the parent’s living status with the child in order to decide the right amount of alimony.

Spouses that seek alimony may receive either permanent, limited duration, rehabilitative or reimbursement alimony, or a combination of two or more types.

4. Supporting documents

You need to provide your divorce lawyer or attorney with all supporting documents they could possibly need. This includes deeds, titles, pre and post nuptial agreements, trusts, wills, bank statements, mortgages, loans, pensions, tax returns, and insurance policies.

Your attorney needs all the possible information and your input to help put together the best possible case for you. Try not to hide anything from your lawyer at all in order to ensure they can choose the best possible route of action for you and give you the most appropriate advice.

5. Child custody

This is probably the most contentious part of any divorce. How legal or physical custody is granted in any divorce case depends on multiple factors such as the state regulations, the parent’s financial status, employment status, living conditions and the child’s will.

Courts often grant physical custody to one parent with visitation rights to another, and grant joint legal custody to both the parents to make the child’s decisions.