Divorce Issues
A divorce, or dissolution, is the legal termination of a marriage. Divorce proceedings raise important and often emotional issues such as child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and division of property. There are generally four steps involved in a divorce: processing and serving the paperwork, preparing for and attending the initial hearing, obtaining information during the discovery phase, and trial, if necessary.

After the first step is completed, an initial hearing is scheduled. The hearing is designed to maintain the status quo during divorce proceeding. Therefore, the court will issue temporary custody, visitation and support orders to ensure the children's and supported spouse's financial needs are met and to balance between households a common standard of living. The third step, the discovery process, is a period of obtaining necessary information for use in a divorce stipulation. This may include information pertaining to the parties' income, debt, assets, and expenses. Additionally, it is during this phase that the issues of post-divorce custody, visitation, and support are addressed.

If the matter is unable to be resolved by stipulation, the matter will proceed to the fourth step, which is trial. It is important to keep in mind that alternatives to formal court proceedings, such as mediation and stipulation, can produce favorable outcomes in that the parties can avoid the costs and time of litigation while retaining more control in the negotiation and settlement of the above-mentioned issues. Click on an article below.

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