Simple Solutions to Your Divorce Concerns
Whether you are thinking about filing divorce or were recently served with divorce papers, you likely have numerous questions. You may be wondering how your family business will be divided. Perhaps you want to know what factors are taken into consideration when child custody is being determined. Maybe you do not understand what constitutes marital property and are uncertain whether your retirement accounts will be divided in the divorce. Some people have questions about whether they will be responsible for paying alimony.
Regardless of your questions, it is important to work with Greensburg divorce lawyers that have experience handling cases like yours. At David K. Lucas & Associates, we have more than 40 years of combined experience representing individuals throughout Western Pennsylvania in divorce and other domestic matters.
Most people who contact us have questions about their legal rights and obligations. Many people either have very little information about the legal system, or they have incorrect or incomplete information from a number of sources.
We know this is a frightening time, and we understand you have numerous questions for which you are seeking answers. When individuals contact us, we offer free initial telephone consultations to address some of those concerns. During that initial consultation, we try to get an idea of the situation our clients are experiencing. We give them a general idea of the timeline and steps we would follow and schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss a more concentrated plan of action.
Three most common mistakes made in a divorce:
1. Taking action before you know your legal rights. Divorce actions are complex matters governed by rules that sometimes do not make sense. It is extremely important from the very beginning to understand these rules. Too often, I hear from prospective clients that they have taken some action prior to consulting with an attorney. This action may be something as simple as telling your spouse that you intend to file for a divorce or something more severe such as moving out of the marital residence. These actions may appear to be insignificant but they can have a damaging effect upon your legal rights in a divorce case. It is very important for you to consult with a domestic attorney prior to taking any action even one as simple as letting your spouse know that you wish to separate.
At this consultation, we can review your particular situation and advise you as to the best possible method for moving forward so that your legal rights are protected.
2. Getting legal advice from family and friends. Family and friends do play an important role in assisting you through a divorce case. However, very rarely are they able to provide sound legal advice. In most cases their advice is based upon what they have heard from friends, seen on TV or experienced themselves in their own divorce. The divorce rules are very complex and sometimes can be confusing. In addition, our state legislature and courts change these rules regularly. Relying upon the legal advice of family and friends can result in irreparable harm.
We do understand the pressures that are put upon a person going through a divorce. To the extent that you rely upon family and friends for advice, we encourage their participation in the process. Family and friends can provide a tremendous amount of assistance to you if they understand the current rules and laws pertaining to a divorce.
3. Working out agreements with your spouse prior to seeing an attorney. Attempting to resolve the legal issues of a divorce without a full and complete understanding of your rights and obligations can cause harm to your divorce case. While we do encourage parties to a divorce to discuss resolution of issues without need of litigation it is very important that you have an understanding of your rights and obligations prior to having the "meeting at the kitchen table." It is very foolish for you to negotiate settlement of issues without an understanding of your legal rights and obligations. Please keep in mind that your spouse may have already consulted with or retained an attorney prior to this meeting. He/she may be fully aware of their legal rights and obligations putting you at a significant disadvantage.
At David K. Lucas and Associates we can prepare you for this meeting giving you the information and instruction you need to make certain that your legal rights are protected.
Contact Murrysville Property Division Attorneys
In every divorce, there are typically several possible ways to resolve a situation. We help our clients understand each option available and possible ramifications of each choice. Learn more about the options available in your situation by contacting us online or by calling 724-216-6433.
