It’s estimated that each year there are approximately 689,308 divorces. Now, the majority of divorces are uncontested, amicable affairs. However, sometimes divorces can turn ugly.
Maybe it’s because of disagreements with child custody and assets. Maybe it’s because one party is angry and wants to cause as much hurt as possible.
Regardless of the reason, if you fall into this category, you must find a good contested divorce attorney. In this guide, we’ll break down some of the reasons you might want to find one of these professionals. That way, you can get this divorce behind you as soon as possible.
1. You Can’t Reach an Agreement With Your Spouse
Whenever you try to discuss the details of your divorce, does it end in a shouting match? Can you not reach a fair agreement on things like asset division, child custody, spousal support, and debt division?
If so, it’s time to contact a contested divorce attorney. These professionals can help break the stalemate between you and your partner by reaching an equitable solution that benefits everyone.
If they push back, then your divorce attorney will fight on your behalf to ensure that the rights of both you and your children are properly respected.
2. You Have Children Together
Child custody is a frequent area of divorce that results in contested arrangements. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. If you both believe you should have full custody of your children when filing for divorce, you’ll fight tooth and nail to protect that right.
A contested divorce lawyer can help negotiate on your behalf to find an equitable custody solution. Even if you think you agree with child custody, it still makes sense to hire an attorney to review your arrangement.
A child’s well-being should be your number one priority during divorce arrangements. As such, you want to make sure you’re happy with the arrangements.
3. Your Spouse Already Hired an Attorney
There’s a difference between hiring a divorce mediator and a divorce attorney. A divorce mediator is supposed to be a third-party, objective legal party who helps with legal separation negotiations.
However, if your spouse hires an attorney who only represents their interests, this party is anything but objective.
Hiring a contested divorce attorney of your own can help prevent your rights from being walked over by a legal professional. Both of these attorneys will negotiate on your behalf to find a solution that works.
4. There Are Significant Assets You Share
It’s common for spouses to share things like bank accounts, property, and vehicles. These assets can be hard enough to divide up on their own.
However, it gets even more complicated if you share assets like a business, stocks, and similar investments. A contested divorce attorney ensures that these assets are divided up equitably. That way, no one party is taking advantage of the other during the divorce process.
5. You Don’t Want to Represent Yourself In Court
The only way you can keep your divorce out of the courts is by having a straightforward, uncontested divorce. And, even then, sometimes you still will need to appear before a judge.
Now, while you’re technically allowed to represent yourself in court, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Judges aren’t in the habit of providing you with special treatment. That means that if you self-represent you’ll be held to the same standards as a lawyer.
As such, one small mistake or breach of protocol can significantly affect the judge’s ruling.
In many cases, it can even get your divorce case thrown out, which prolongs both the expenses and pain. When you hire a divorce attorney, you’re getting a professional who knows all the ins and outs of legal procedure.
6. You’ve Been Abused or Manipulated by Your Spouse
It’s a sad fact, but more than ten million women and men are physically abused by their partners each year. Unfortunately, if you’re in an abusive relationship, getting a divorce can significantly escalate the amount of abuse you’re experiencing at the hands of your partner.
That’s why it’s vital to find a divorce attorney with experience dealing with these types of abuse. They can give you the resources to protect yourself while trying to reach an agreement with your partner.
If necessary, they can assist you in filing a restraining order to protect yourself and your children from your abusive partner.
7. One or Both of You Are in Debt
Sometimes you might share debt, like with a mortgage or credit card bills. Other times, the debt might belong to your spouse, like with student debt.
Unless you want to assume debt that you had no part in building, it’s important to work with a contested divorce attorney. They can ensure that you don’t start your post-divorce life off buried in debt that you don’t deserve.
8. There’s a Prenuptial Agreement in the Marriage
If either you or your spouse hired a prenuptial agreement lawyer before your marriage, it can make the legal aspects of your divorce more straightforward.
Still, you’ll want to make sure that the prenuptial document is being followed and enforced correctly during the proceedings. That’s why you should hire a professional to review the document. In some cases, changes to the document can be negotiated to benefit
9. You Suspect There Are Hidden Assets
It’s not unheard of for a spouse in a divorce to have assets that they’ve been keeping hidden from their spouse. Often this is done to prevent these assets from being divided up during the divorce.
Not only is this against the law, but it’s also not ethical. A contested divorce attorney can assist you in unburying any potential assets your partner is keeping hidden from you. That way, they can be properly divided up between all parties in a way that’s equitable for everyone.
Need a Contested Divorce Attorney? Contact Blake & Schanbacher Law, LLC
We hope this guide helped convince you to hire a contested divorce attorney. Here at Blake & Schanbacher Law, LLC, we know how ugly these types of divorces can be.
That’s why we do everything in our power to get it over with as soon as possible. To do this, we utilize strategies gained over decades of legal practice. So if you want to know how we can help you through your contested divorce, contact us today.
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