If you are seeking a divorce in St. Louis, you may be tempted to file the case on your own. Though the law provides you with the provision to do so, it would be unwise.
The best way to represent your interests in the court of law is to hire an experienced St. Louis divorce mediation lawyer.
A divorce can be extremely stressful. Hiring divorce attorneys can considerably reduce this stress. Missouri is a no-fault state and will allow you to legally separate with your partner if your attorney proves that your marriage is beyond saving. There’s no need for you to prove why your marriage failed.
An experienced St. Louis divorce mediation lawyer will be aware of the legal requirements of divorce and ensure efficient legal representation. However, your lawyer will be able to help you only if they know every detail of your case, no matter how minute or trivial it may seem. During a divorce, you need to trust your lawyer and be completely honest with them.
In this post, we have shed light on five key things that your St. Louis divorce mediation lawyer should necessarily know about your case.
1. History of Your Marriage
Your St. Louis divorce mediation lawyer should be aware of the history of your marriage. It’s best to provide a written statement where all the critical facts related to your marriage are mentioned.
These may include how you met your spouse when you got married, the names and ages of your children, educational and professional details, and all other critical information about you and your soon-to-be-ex. All these details will help your attorney frame the divorce petition and strategize how to proceed with the case wisely.
You can put all these details together in a timeline of important dates. The document should also specify the assets you and your partner own jointly, and the properties you have individual claim over.
2. Details of Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreement
This is one of the most important things that your divorce lawyer should know about. A prenuptial agreement is negotiated and signed before the marriage, while a postnuptial agreement is signed after the marriage. Both agreements help determine spousal support in case the marriage ends in divorce.
It will also dictate how the assets and debts will be divided between you and your spouse. However, none of these agreements can deny you custody of your children. Your attorney will guide you through the entire process of child custody separately.
If properly drafted, both the agreements are enforceable. It’s your responsibility to inform your lawyer about the contract, as it will help facilitate the process of seeking maintenance. If there’s any concern in your mind regarding the document’s validity, you can seek consultation from your attorney.
3. Children from the Marriage
You must inform your lawyer if you have children with your spouse, as child-related issues can further complicate divorce cases. So, issues like child custody and child support need to be settled during the divorce.
All information concerning your children will help your St. Louis divorce mediation lawyer understand how custody, visitation, and support obligations will influence the negotiations as the case proceeds. This, in turn, will help them represent your interests and efficiently counter the opposition.
Additionally, if you want to modify the existing parenting plan, you must consult an experienced St. Louis divorce attorney, who will be well aware of the process.
4. Information about Assets and Debt
When you decide to legally separate, it’s mandatory to divide your marital property and debts between you and your spouse. This may be complicated.
Your lawyer should have a thorough understanding of the assets and debts involved in the proceedings. They should also know if you want to retain certain properties or assets or want equal rights.
This will help your lawyer furnish evidence concerning your financial obligations and the properties you wish to retain or seek equal rights for commercial stability.
5. Details of Domestic Abuse (If Applicable)
If you are a victim of domestic violence at the hands of your spouse, you should inform your attorney about it. This will help them guide you in the best possible way and ensure that you achieve the best possible outcome from your divorce petition.
Victims of domestic abuse need to file for divorce more tactically. A St. Louis divorce mediation lawyer will guide you through the process of serving the divorce papers to your abusive spouse in a safe manner, especially if you are still residing together. During the procedure, your attorney may recommend local resources such as counselors, shelters, or other organizations that may support and protect you.
Conclusion
During the initial consultation with your St. Louis divorce mediation lawyer, you should ask them about the information they will need from you. Herein lies the importance of working with an attorney you can trust and feel comfortable around. Ensure that you have shared all the basic information. This may include details about your spouse’s or your extramarital affair, financial obligations, abuse or ill-treatment, domestic violence or child neglect, and any other information relevant to your divorce case. Though sharing your personal information may make you uncomfortable initially, it’s in your best interest. Your divorce mediation attorney is bound to protect any confidential case-related information you share with them. Remember, both of you have the same goal – securing the best outcome for your case.
Consult Our Seasoned St. Louis Divorce Mediation Lawyers
The verdict of your divorce case can have a massive impact on your life. At the J Rench Law Firm, LLC, we have a team of seasoned divorce attorneys who will work hard to provide you with aggressive representation in the court of law. To understand how we can help you, speak with attorney Jennifer Rench today. Call (314) 725-4000 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
