Divorce involves complicated legal processes. If you and your spouse have decided to take this life-changing step, it is best to do it with the help of a seasoned Salt Lake City divorce attorney. The laws regarding divorce vary from state to state and the divorce process also is a bit different. Divorce lawyers are knowledgeable when it comes to family law and they know how to go about the case. Every divorce case is different but the format of the legal process is similar. Such emotionally draining cases can be an expensive affair too.
The divorce process works in the following ways:-’
File divorce petition: Every divorce process starts with a petition where either party is a petitioner, who files a legal petition to terminate the marriage. The petition must involve a statement stating that one of the partners meets the state’s residency requirements. It must also mention the reason for divorce especially if it is an at-fault or no-fault divorce.
Temporary court orders: Till the divorce is not finalized, the dependent partner, who has no income source, can ask the court to assign temporary court orders to receive child support, spousal support, and child custody. To pass a temporary court order the judge calls for a hearing and listens to both parties. They pass the orders immediately which remain in force till the judgment is passed.
File proof of service: If you file for divorce and ask for temporary court orders, you have to send a copy of the paperwork to the other partner. Then you have to file a proof of service with the court. The proof of service tells the court that you have served the petition and sent a copy of it to your spouse. Only after this, the judge can proceed with the case.
Negotiate a settlement: You and your spouse have to negotiate a settlement when it comes to the division of marital assets, debts, child custody arrangements, spousal support arrangements, etc. If there are too many disagreements the court will ask for mediation by involving a neutral third party.
Go to trial: If negotiation and mediation fail, the court is bound to step in. The case now goes to trial. The trial happens in front of a judge and with jury members present. Both sides present their evidence and witness to support their claim. The court looks into both sides’ arguments and comes up with a final judgment.
Divorce trials are expensive cases. Therefore, it should not be handled on your own. You must hire a reputed family lawyer dealing in divorce cases to represent you in court. This will give you peace of mind.
