Chicago Family Law Attorneys
Pre-Trial Strategy
Divorce often causes emotional upheaval as spouses face their split from one another and from the life they built together. However, successfully navigating a divorce also requires a focus on the legal and financial risks and opportunities that arise during the divorce process.
Although mediation and informal negotiation are all that is required for some couples to reach an agreement on financial and custody-related issues, an experienced Illinois divorce attorney keeps the possibility of trial in mind from the beginning. With trial as a possibility, an experienced family law lawyer will take several steps with a sound pre-trial strategy in mind:
Ask questions. When you first meet with your divorce attorney, he or she will likely ask you several questions in order to get a clearer picture of your individual needs and wishes. This question-and-answer session goes both ways; you may also ask your attorney every question that comes to mind, no matter how small it seems. Common discussion topics at this time include how long you and your spouse have been married; whether you have any children; you and your spouse’s educational background, careers, and goals; and financial picture, including the amount of assets, debts, and the approximate value of any family-owned business.
Seek information. After the petition for divorce is filed with the court, the process known as "discovery" begins. During this process, your attorney seeks information about the details of the marriage, including verification of financial details and any legal arrangements such as a prenuptial agreement. If you have not been able to obtain copies of certain financial documents, such as information on investments, retirement accounts, or the value of the marital home and business, your attorney will gather this information during discovery.
Consult experts. A divorce attorney who focuses on family law knows not only which experts may be needed to establish your case, but also which individual experts in the area will be best for your individual situation. Experts whom your attorney may consult for valuable input in building your case include business and real estate valuation professionals, appraisers to examine personal property, or a vocational evaluator to determine your likely earning capacity in the future. The judicious use of an expert’s input can be crucial to avoid trial or to win during trial.
Build a plan. As an advocate for your future, an experienced family law attorney in Illinois doesn’t just gather information. He or she also uses that information to build a clear and workable plan that will allow you to exit your marriage with the emotional, financial, and legal support you need to move on with your life. Your attorney starts building this plan with you from the start, helping you establish clear goals and giving you the support you need to reach them.
At Nottage and Ward, we practice family law and only family law. Our dedication allows us to provide the best legal representation we can to each of our clients. If you’re considering divorce, call the Chicago divorce attorneys at Nottage and Ward today to see if our experience is right for you.
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