It may be the one lawyer everyone hopes they never need, but sadly each year millions of people do. With nearly half of all marriages ending in divorce, divorce lawyers have no shortage of potential clients. When a marriage dissolves there is far more to it than simply breaking up and moving out. Both parties must often endure a long and emotionally difficult legal process that requires the expertise of divorce lawyers in order to navigate successfully. Regardless of your gender, fault in the divorce – or lack thereof, divorce lawyers are essential for anyone who is considering a divorce or separation.
The specifics of divorce law vary from state to state, yet the general rolls of divorce lawyers are essentially quite similar from one place to another. After the initial divorce papers have been filed and delivered, divorce lawyers will usually begin working out the arrangements needed to finalize the divorce. Despite the popular notion that the division of property and debts is battled out on the floor of the court room, in many cases it is settled long before the case goes before a judge. In fact, many states require that both parties attempt to resolve these issues through mediation before allowing the case to go to court.
Property and debts are only one area of concern for divorce lawyers and their clients. Spousal support – or alimony – is another important element of a divorce settlement. Contrary to perceptions, alimony can be awarded to males and females, and the terms of the settlement can vary greatly depending on the state in which the divorce proceedings occur, the length of the marriage, the income of both parties, and many other factors.
Perhaps there is no other element of the divorce process that causes more heartache and conflict than the process of establishing child custody and visitation rights. Like other aspects of divorce, many court systems insist that the parties and their divorce lawyers attempt to resolve this question through third-party mediation rather than through the court system. However, this is a complicated issue that can even involve visitation rights that are granted to grandparents. If the question is unable to be resolved through mediation then the court will once again weigh a wide range of issues before issuing a decision on the matter.
Divorce is a painful, confusing, and complex process, and its effects can be wide ranging. The ability of both parties to move on with their lives and for their children to have a healthy existence, often hinges on the outcome of the divorce proceedings. Competent divorce lawyers are an integral part of achieving an acceptable outcome.
For easy to understand, in depth information about divorce lawyers visit our ezGuide 2 Lawyer.
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