Some people anticipate receiving divorce papers. Others are the individuals who file the paperwork. Some other people might be completely blindsided by receiving a divorce complaint. Regardless of the situation you have found yourself in, divorce can be hard, as divorce lawyers, can explain. What should you do after receiving divorce papers?
Read Them Thoroughly
There’s probably a lot of information in the documents you have before you. Your spouse should have outlined why this action is being taken as well as what he or she seeks to gain from the divorce. Most often, there will be a deadline listed that you must respond by. It’s essential you read the divorce complaint thoroughly to ensure everything falls into place correctly. If your spouse claims something in the papers that isn’t necessarily true, you’ll need to dispute that. If he or she is seeking custody or spousal support, you might contest that as well. You won’t know unless you do a thorough reading.
Hire an Attorney
Every divorce is different, but most require the professional assistance of an attorney. This could be one of the biggest events in your life, so you’ll want to be sure everything is fair and legal. Your attorney can help you read through the paperwork, create a response, fight for your rights and even go to court. Even if your spouse has hired an attorney already, it could do you some good to hire your own.
Create Your Response
In many cases, you’ll have 30 days from the day you receive the papers to respond to the complaint. Your attorney might help you create the response, but you should know what you want to include in it. Anything that’s incorrect should be fixed. Anything that you feel isn’t fair should be mentioned. The complaint may be organized by numbered points, and you’ll be required to respond to each.
Be Honest
One of the most important things to remember when going through a divorce is to be honest. It might be tempting to hide money from your spouse or to lie about your income in hopes of receiving spousal support, but it’s probably not going to be worth it. In most cases, the lying spouse gets found out, and that can have a negative impact on what you are entitled to in the divorce.
Getting Started Today
If you recently received a divorce complaint, it’s time to get started with your response. As soon as you feel you understand everything in the document, work with a lawyer to respond to it. Contact a divorce lawyer today for help getting started.