Your role in a family law matter can vary significantly based on your specific circumstances, including the nature of the case (e.g., divorce, child custody, adoption, property division, etc) and your position within the family law matter.
Family law matters can be emotionally charged and it is often helpful to have the support of a qualified legal team to help navigate the complexities of the legal system effectively. Here are some suggestions to keep in mind moving forward:
- Advocate for Your Interests: You have the right to advocate for your interests, whether it is in court or through negotiations. This often involves conveying your needs, concerns, and desires related to the matter at hand with your legal team.
- Provide Accurate Information: Provide all relevant details about your situation, including financial information, custody arrangements, and other pertinent facts related to your case. Honesty and transparency with your legal team is crucial.
- Be Informed: You should be as informed and as involved in your case as possible. You must read all documents and understand all of the provisions within those documents. Ask any questions that you might have at any time. While your attorney will provide periodic updates regarding changes in the case, upcoming deadlines, and substantive issues, there will be times when the case is relatively quiet, and you may not hear from him or her. If you grow anxious or want to know the status of your case at any time, you should reach out and ask the attorney or staff.
- Keep a File: Make a folder in your e-mail or your filing cabinet of all correspondence and documents produced in your case. It is important to have all the necessary documents at your fingertips.
- Manage Expectations: Understand that family law matters can be complex and may not resolve your way quickly or 100 percent. Be prepared for potential challenges and setbacks and communicate openly with your legal team about any concerns you have about your case.
- Gathering Information: Facts are the heart of your lawsuit. When your legal team requests information from you, provide that information quickly and fully. There will be times when it will be time-consuming and tedious work, but without that information, your case goes nowhere. Your case will only be as good as the information/documents you provide to your legal team. The more you gather the information, the more you do, the less expensive it will be as well.
- Review Adverse Party Documents Carefully: Your legal team will provide you with copies of all documents supplied by the adverse party or the adverse party’s attorney. You must review all documents provided to you. The more familiarized you are with this information will allow you to detect anything important or unusual in the documents.
- Financial Responsibility: Be prepared to manage any associated costs, including attorney fees, court fees, and other fees related to your case. Do not expect your legal team to work for free. Review your contract often and understand and know what the financial expectations of your case will be.
- Maintain Professionalism: Keep a respectful tone with everyone associated with your case. This professionalism will facilitate better relationships and can help facilitate better outcomes for your case.
- Making Decisions: No Final settlement on your case will be made without your approval, consent, and understanding. You will need to allow your legal team the authority to make decisions that involve professional judgment or courtesy. For example, when to file a pleading how to phrase allegations contained within your pleadings, or when to schedule a hearing or agree to mediation. Resistance to a legitimate request made by the adverse party or the adverse party’s attorney is never in your best interest and will be more financially expensive for you.
- Attend Court Hearings and Mediation Settings: Attend all required court hearings and mediation sessions. Be punctual, prepared, and professional at all times.
- Be Wary of Outside Advice: As you go through this family law process, you will receive input and advice from everyone such as friends, family members, or even people you barely know. You must remember at all times; that your case is unique and different from others. Other people will not have all the facts in your case, the court, the law, or opposing counsel. Other people will not have discussed the strategy of your case or know the details you have shared with your legal team.
By actively participating in your family law matter and collaborating with your legal team, you can help ensure that your interests are protected and that the process runs as smoothly as possible. Trust your legal team, you picked them for a reason.