There’s no rulebook for going through a divorce, but many people make more mistakes throughout the process than they have to. When you’re going through a messy situation with your ex-spouse, the last thing you should be doing is navigating it all on your own. Our divorce law attorneys can help you reach the settlement you deserve while maintaining your sanity. Here are 3 divorce law mistakes that you can avoid by hiring one of our divorce lawyers.
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Misunderstanding the Legal Process
Many people mistakenly assume that divorce is a simple processor that they can easily represent themselves in family court. Occasionally, divorce law cases do turn out to be cut and dry. More often than not, however, someone who represents themselves during a divorce law case will be confronted with an array of court rules and procedures that can bog them down.
Individuals can quickly find themselves overwhelmed with the . There are papers to fill out and deadlines to remember, not to mention the fact that you’ll need to deal with your ex-spouse’s divorce attorneys. If anything is done improperly, your case can be dismissed and your rights compromised.
The best way to protect yourself during a divorce is to hire one of our attorneys. Our divorce lawyers will aggressively defend your rights so you get the settlement you deserve. They’ll also be able to walk you through the divorce process so you know what to expect.
Underestimating the Timeline
Due to the procedural rules and laws that govern how divorce cases are processed, court cases are typically not resolved as quickly as people expect.
The shortest amount of time a divorce case can take is about two months. For a divorce where children are involved, that turns into six months assuming that everyone is agreeable on all issues. Some counties do an exceptional job at hearing motions every other week, but even then a typical case can last much longer than someone might expect.
Ruling Out Mediation
Many courts today encourage, and sometimes even mandate parties to go through divorce mediation. They do this in spite of the fact that this can delay the process, for the simple reason that mediation works.
People who come to an agreement themselves are more likely to abide by that agreement. If a judge decides a case, there is usually a winner and a loser. The loser is obviously not happy and tends to obstruct the judgment as much as they can. This leads to frustration and future trips to court.
Experienced and ethical divorce law attorneys also highly recommend mediation, especially in divorce and custody cases, because it can save their clients quite a bit of time and grief. Good divorce mediation means there is no need for the client to go through an expensive and emotionally-draining trial.
Some people ask us about common-law marriages in Michigan, you can learn more about these here.
Divorce can be messy. Our divorce law attorneys in Grand Rapids, MI are ready to help you through the process. To request a free consultation with one of our divorce lawyers, call John Engman & Associates, P.C. at (616) 454-5222.