Are You Contemplating Filing for a Divorce? Here's What You Should Know About the Process
In most cases, the events leading to a divorce happen so fast that you hardly have time to understand all the legalities involved in the process. In addition, the emotions and stress associated with the procedure might make it hard to find out every little detail you need to know. As a result, your divorce case might yield a negative outcome, which might cause additional stress. Therefore, if you're contemplating filing for a divorce, here's what you need to know about it.
The Court Might Not Subdivide Your Property Equally
It is not automatic that you will get half of the property you own after divorcing your spouse. In some states, the constitution indicates that judges should divide the marital estate equally amongst spouses after a divorce. However, in others, the family law allows judges to consider different factors before making their final decision. Some of the things the judge can consider include the education levels, health conditions, and financial situation of you and your spouse.
They might also consider who has better business opportunities than the other. Therefore, when filing your divorce case, don't expect a 50/50 division of the assets you own together.
The Process Might Take Longer Than You Thought
Your divorce case might take longer than you thought, depending on the complexity of the issues involved. For example, if there are few disagreements between the parties, a divorce might take between six to twelve months.
However, if there are contentious issues about child custody, division of property, and regular court order amendments, the process can take years. But you can make the process a lot faster by avoiding contestations with your soon-to-be ex-spouse.
The Case Can Be Challenging to Navigate Without Legal Representation
It might be challenging to get a favourable outcome if you don't have legal representation. That is because the process is regulated by complex laws that might be hard to understand. Besides, the thought of losing child custody or a portion of your property might force you to make emotional decisions that may affect the outcome of your case. Therefore, it is advisable to hire a divorce lawyer to guide you through the process.
If you plan to separate with your spouse legally, keep the information above in mind to prevent frustrations at the end of the process. More essentially, hire a family lawyer to offer you advice and represent you in court so you get the best possible outcome.