Thursday, January 14, 2010
6 Steps to Take Before Filing for Divorce
1.) STOP! Do you really want to take this step in the relationship? Maybe you can both go to a relationship counsellor, ask your religious leader to help, read the Relate website or take other steps to save the situation. That said sometimes when a person is known to have spoken to a Denver divorce lawyer, the other in the relationship realises how serious they are and that can cause a major change in them. But do think carefully, first.
2.) ASK people you know which lawyer they used and what their views were. All Denver lawyers are qualified in a similar way but you will most certainly need to have one who specialises in family / divorce law. Look on the Web. Who really looks like they specialise rather than say they do? If you can understand their website you will probably understand them. Do they offer fixed fees and/or do they tell you how much they charge? All these are very good signs.
3.) CONSIDER what you are really trying to achieve. Maybe you would like to have some counselling or "divorce coaching" to help you with that. Many people, perhaps understandably, go to a Denver divorce lawyer insisting upon what is really vengeance. Courts are very, very expensive places to attempt to mete out any form of punishment to a former spouse. Try to avoid this unless you want a legal bill of the huge figures one sometimes reads about.
4.) PREPARE your papers and figures. Make a note of your view of the valuations of valuable items such as house, car and investments. Try to get papers together on pensions, savings, bank accounts and salary for both of you. The more information you can provide, the more detailed advice you will receive at an early stage.
5.) DON'T agree to anything, formally or signed, with your spouse. That will come soon enough. Quite often we see cases where a dominant partner has pushed the other into a proposed financial settlement that is very, very unwise indeed. Listen to what they say by all means but find out what the traps are for the unwary, first. But if you have already come to an agreement, do tell your lawyer. Nobody will stop you going through with it provided you understand it. Denver Divorce lawyers are only there to advise, not to tell.
6.) CHECK you can have an informal talk to your proposed lawyer before you are committed. Can they communicate with you? Can you understand them? Do they seem understanding and knowledgeable? If not, go somewhere else. The vast majority of complaints about lawyers are about failure to communicate properly and not about legal ability. It does not matter how technically good they are and how many certificates they have if they can't help you understand what is happening.
How Long Does a Divorce Take?
If you have been talking with others about the period of time a Denver divorce would take, you probably heard anything from 6 months to 6 years right? The real question is how long are you both willing to fight over children and property? If your children are young or newborn you could be having a child custody battle until the youngest one is 18 years old. Child custody battles are the most lengthy, expensive and emotional part of a divorce. No children and no property you could probably have divorce wrapped up in a couple of weekends if you both agree on everything.
The divorce will even be cheap because you both can share the same Denver family lawyer. The length of a divorce really depends on how much you both agree on everything, but when you don't agree on who gets the house, the children, the cars, the money, the insurance, the retirement and even the dogs, your in for a long and costly battle.
The Battle Over My 2 Dogs Alone
Which I finally got, cost me around $2k, maybe even more and 6 months of heartache because my ex-husband would not hand the dogs over. Not only that he would beat them, underfeed them, wouldn't take them to the vet, attached shock collars, and confined them to a tiny little space in the back yard. you would think the humane society would do something about it, but nope, there was nothing they can do. So I did what I had to do, get a professional Denver lawyer who advised me on how to get those back, 2 weeks and $2k later, I am the proud parent of my 2 dogs once again.
I Just Want To Move On
I know what you mean and if you're one of the lucky ones whose husband is willing to just agree to reasonable child custody and division of assets, praise the lord each and every day. However I have a feeling if you're reading this, it's because the issue of divorce concerns you in more than one way. Maybe you have already moved on emotionally and found a better life and significant other. Maybe you have escaped an emotionally or physically abusive relationship and want to cut all ties a quick as possible. Whatever the reason, I feel your pain and I want to tell you how to go about this as quickly as possible, but I also want to ensure you don't get taken advantage of, just because you are unfamiliar with the Denver divorce process.
Get Educated, Have a Plan, And A Really Good Lawyer
Just remember that how long does a divorce take all depends on how much you both equally agree about children and property. If you don't agree or already know that your husband or wife is not going to agree on either of those subjects, then you need to educate yourself now. If the divorce process has not started, do not wait! Get a good lawyer to protect your rights and start educating yourself. Take action now, never wait until things get out of hand in a divorce, because the one who acts last has a much harder chance of getting what they want and deserve. The decision that happen in a divorce battle are never fair and just and will always leave one of you unhappy with the results. Don't let yourself be that one
First thing first is to get a free consultation with an Denver family law attorney familiar with divorce and child custody in your court district.
Visit My Divorce Help
Get a free no cost obligation of your legal rights to divorce and custody. The free consultation will let you know yours and his legal rights to divorce and child custody. They will also let you know how to protect yourself and how much its going to cost. Just remember the first one to act will get the upper hand. Do not wait for him to get a lawyer first.
Secondly I highly recommend an online reference guide called Divorce Strategies and Tactics For Women. Its only $27 and its going to answer a lot of questions that you have about divorce.
Last but absolutely not least, if you have a child and you think there is even a slight chance of a custody battle get this guide on How to Win Child Custody. Child custody is a completely separate issue and battle from divorce and usually 90% of the expenses and heart ache. Use these strategies to get the upper hand from day one. I will tell you from experience, women do not always get primary custody, because the courts these days want the parents to have equal parenting. Do not wait until things start to go wrong to get this information that you should be doing even before you start the divorce process.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Denver Divorce Guide
Recent 2009 statistics reveal that almost 50% of all marriages in the United States will end in divorce.
Further research shows that since 1997, the average age of divorce has increased from 40.2 to 43.7 years for men and 37.7 to 41.2 years for women - this is partly due to the rise in the age of marriage. However, the highest rate of divorce is for couples in their late twenties.
An ongoing survey by professional service group 'CertainShops - Professionals Online' shows that following a relationship break down, people are more likely to buy new properties, update their wills and insurances, and spend money on themselves.
Results to date show that in the three years following the end of a marriage: 35.3% changed their job, 20.0% changed their appearance, 27.3% joined a gym, 26.5% rented a property more than once and 36.7% bought a new property.
Financial advice and legal advice were considered 'definitely important' 53.1% and 50% of people going through a relationship break up, with well-being advice also required at 45.5%. The highest score for 'definitely important' was 82.8% for 'people to listen to them sympathetically'.
Step-by-step Divorce guide
Despite the group figures, Denver divorce is a personal and individual issue and should not be taken lightly.
The actual process of getting divorced in fairly straight forward but the legal jargon regarding issues such as dividing assets, financial woes and child problems, often hinders a quick divorce.
1 - Divorce Petition = The first step of a Denver divorce is put into motion by completing a form called a 'petition for divorce'. You can pick these up from local stationary shops, the HM Courts website or a solicitor. You do not need to employ the services of a Denver lawyer to get divorced, but it is wise to do so, especially if children are concerned.
You must have been married for at least one year to begin a petition and the form asks you why you wish for a divorce. There are five basic reasons for a divorce, any one or more reason is needed before the court can consider your case. On completion, you take the form to the county court.
2 - The Court = The second step is going to court. Once the court has received your form it will consider your reasons for wanting a divorce - you must show you have satisfactory grounds for the breakdown of your marriage. If the court agrees, you will be legally known as 'the petitioner' and your partner becomes 'the respondent'. As a consequence of the Denver divorce petition, you must supply copies of your marriage certificate and any information on children. The court then carries out the process of 'serving the petition.' Here you send out the copy to your partner. They then have eight days to acknowledge the form.
3 - Agreement = The partner then must confirm if they agree or disagree with the divorce. If they disagree, the court may ask for further information and it is recommended you now employ the services of a solicitor.
4 - Decree Nisi = The decree nisi is where a judge has reviewed all of the information available to them, has checked that all arrangements for the children and all of the financial problems have been resolved or are in the process of being resolved. If everything is in order to the judge, then a decree nisi will be granted. You are still legally married at this stage.
5 - Decree Absolute = This is the final stage of the process and usually occurs around 6 weeks after the decree nisi has been granted but you have to apply for it yourself. If you don't, then your partner can apply for it themselves but only after a further 3 months have passed. Once child and financial issues have been settled and if both are in order, then upon application, the decree absolute will then be granted. You are no longer married and free to re-marry.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Affordable Denver Divorce Lawyers
Checking through the yellow pages would produce quite a list of lawyers practicing family law. However, the best kinds are divorce lawyers who are most well known by word of mouth. Browsing the Internet is another option to look for a good Denver divorce lawyer. Many websites help customers locate a good practicing family law lawyer in a specific area. Of course, locating a divorce lawyer through the state bar association is an always available method for those looking for accredited lawyers working for the government.
Available online is a lot of information regarding the divorce proceedings. This can be of a big help if either party is looking for a cheap divorce. It is possible to get cheap divorce if there is no contest from either party or no other litigation with regards to child custody, and things like property rights. Knowing all the rules and divorce laws can reduce the Denver divorce attorney expenses while ensuring uncomplicated settlement between both the parties as per the state divorce laws. All such information is available online and can be retrieved with minimum effort. Online lawyers are available to help in cases where an online divorce service is entertained due to lower cost. Paperwork obviously is minimal since everything is online and the best part is that it’s all completely legal!
It is important to note that cheap online divorces are only suitable for those who wish to separate without any lingering issues pending between them. No-fault divorces are usually considered cheaper. A ‘no fault’ divorce happens when both parties agree to separate peacefully.
Available online are websites that work as referral services to a number of Denver divorce lawyers willing to work cheap. Most of these websites provide free forms to start the divorce proceedings along with legal support at a considerably low cost. However, cheap divorces are not for those who require a lot of settlements prior to the dissolution of the marriage such as property, settlements, children, and pet custody. This is important to note since divorce decrees are final and cannot be reopened or changed at a later stage.
Affordable Divorce Lawyers
When a couple decides to get a divorce, each partner suffers a monetary set back. They have to manage two families instead of one. Children suffer the most in these situations. Several organizations are actively involved in providing affordable services to people who seek a divorce and other related issues such as child custody and visitations. These organizations must raise funds from charities, private donors and the government.
Many Denver divorce lawyers charge minimal fees when representing people belonging to middle-income and low-income groups. A typical divorce lawyer can charge up to $200 an hour. A simple divorce case may absorb ten or more hours of a lawyer's time, amounting to $2000 or more per case. Most divorce cases are usually complicated and involve several other related matters and many more hours.
An individual seeking the services of an affordable divorce lawyer may look to the Internet for a list of lawyers, their profile and fees. There are many Denver divorce attorneys who are involved in general practice. However, it is advisable to look for a lawyer who is an expert in divorce and custody cases, since this generally reduces the cost.
Many people are unable to pay for these legal services. Most states in the US have legal aid services that offer discounted legal services. They also offer free services to people who are incapable of hiring a Denver divorce lawyer to plead their case.
Can the Cheapest Denver Divorce Lawyers Get the Job Done?
Well, in the middle of all that excitement of getting a cheap divorce, one of my other friends reminded us about the old fact that good stuff doesn't come cheap. Unfortunately, later on this second friend of mine proved to be correct. My friends divorce process got extremely expensive for him ultimately because his Denver divorce lawyer didn't know left from right.
The fact is that if you want to find a lawyer that will take care of handling your divorce process for a very low price, you probably can. There are so many lawyers out there these days that are just happy to get some clients, that the rates for their services have plummeted in the last ten years.
Unfortunately those cheap divorce lawyers will not be able to really help you with your case. If you do want to get a Denver divorce attorney that truly knows everything about divorcing, you will need to put down some serious money.
Then is cheap divorce possible? Yes it is, although it does take a bit more work from your part but if you are willing to do that, you may end up saving thousands and thousands of dollars. Perhaps the best news for men divorcing is that some of the best divorce experts in the country are now offering their help online.
These experts are truly a blessing to all the men going through a divorce. They have made it possible for many men to win their divorce without spending all their money while doing so.