Hello, I'm Karla Mitchell. Going through a legal case can be very expensive and challenging. I won't go into details, but I recently underwent my own legal battle that lasted several years. It is finally over and I successfully received a settlement, but I had to spend so much time studying law in order to play my role in my own court case. While I found a great attorney at one point, I felt completely lost initially and I don't want anyone else to experience the same thing. So I decided to create this blog for those who would like to know more about law.
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If you have been served with divorce papers, you should not sit the papers down and ignore them. Instead, you need to take steps immediately to act. This will ensure you are protected. Below are two things you should do first.
Contact an Attorney
It is vital that you contact a divorce attorney as soon as you can. They will ask you to bring them the divorce papers that you received so they can look them over. This is even true if you agree with the divorce. Once the attorney reads over the divorce papers, they will tell you what your legal rights are and the options that you have. Also, your spouse may contest the divorce at a later date and then you would already have an attorney on your side.
In some cases, you may only need a divorce attorney to help you file a response to the divorce papers. The attorney may also need to represent you in court if your spouse does not agree with your response. What you choose will depend on your finances and what you can afford to pay an attorney.
If there are children involved, the divorce attorney can also help you with child custody. This is especially important if you and your spouse cannot come to an arrangement in how to handle the children. Also, you may fight over assets that you own as a couple or you may own solely on your own. If so, your divorce attorney can ensure that you obtain the assets that are yours.
Get Documents Together
Your divorce attorney will likely ask you to get your documents together. These documents will include your marriage certificate, your birth certificate, and your Social Security card. You will also need documents showing your finances, such as bank statements and tax returns. Your spouse will also be required to give their attorney these documents. This will help your attorney determine if your spouse should pay you spousal support as well as what they can afford to pay in child support.
You need to also bring documents showing your finances, such as credit card statements or any other loan papers. This is especially true if these statements and papers are in both yours and your spouse's names. Knowing your assets, who you owe, and the amount you owe can help your divorce attorney build their case.
Talk to a divorce attorney like one at the Law Offices of Athina K. Powers. An attorney can give you many more tips to help you get started so you can get through your divorce with no problems.
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