Legal Guide

2022 Legal Guide Page

DIVORCE FACT The average marriage in the United States lasts 8.2 years. Couples in Italy more than double the United States marriage longevity with their marriages lasting on average over 18 years.

Details: DMK Editorial; Legal Guide; 03 December 2021; Hits: 1245

Top things people consider when shopping for an attorney

Choosing an attorney to represent you in a divorce is a very important decision. It helps to know what people consider about an attorney before they hire someone to represent them. Based on a survey done by ILawyerMarketing.com "New Study: How People Hire Lawyers in 2017", the average legal consumer has many considerations. They range from experience and legal fees to pictures of the attorney and his/her social media activity. Check out the entire list from the survey below.

Details: DMK Editorial; Legal Guide; 08 May 2021; Hits: 811

Before you meet with a lawyer

For a divorce:

It's best not to meet with an attorney immediately following bad news, an argument or disagreement. It should be after you've taken some time to make sure the marriage can not be saved and a legal dissolution is eminent. It's important to realize that while you take the road to divorce as a response to your marriage's end, the road itself is usually going to make your life harder before it get's better.

Details: DMK Editorial; Legal Guide; 06 May 2021; Hits: 1175

Interviewing a potential attorney

It's time to consult an attorney to get a broader legal view of your pending divorce. But, what should you know before you meet with your first attorney?

Details: DMK Editorial; Legal Guide; 06 May 2021; Hits: 979

What to expect once you hire your divorce attorney?

By now you have spoken with one or more attorneys regarding divorce. It's time to hire the attorney that you have determined is best to handle your case. Upon hiring your attorney you will likely do the following:

Details: DMK Editorial; Legal Guide; 13 May 2021; Hits: 807

Making a personal connection with your attorney is very helpful in order to reduce potential problems and personality conflicts throughout your divorce case. It's better for effective communication. It makes it easier to discuss your expectations for a potential outcome. An attorney with strong personal skills provides more efficient explanation and a clearer legal picture of your case based on state laws and individual circumstances.

Details: DMK Editorial; Legal Guide; 07 November 2019; Hits: 995

Step-by-Step Guide to Hiring a Divorce Attorney

What do people consider when hiring an attorney?

Before you meet with an attorney-

After you hire an attorney-

What to ask during the first consultation?

Why you should "like" your attorney?

Get Started Here

KNOT Fact

Most people find their attorneys online

Based on a professional survey of 1000 American consumers on the methods of searching for legal representation, the internet was the primary source to research and hire attorneys.

Accessed 3/2019 from 4/17/2014 FindLaw Survey, www.thomsonreuters.com

Improve Co-Parenting Today!

Attorney Written-Divorce Guide

Empowering Low- and Moderate Income Women to navigate the complicated, legal divorce journey.

Organize family & divorce documents

Legal Process Facts

1. Debts incurred during a marriage are usually considered marital debts.

2. Responsibility for marital debts is allocated according to the property division laws of the state.

3. If you earn a higher income and/or have lower living expenses the court may consider you to assume a higher portion of the marital debt.

4. Interrogatories are written questions the spouse must answer in writing, under oath.

5. Depositions are when a spouse or party must answer questions under oath before a court reporter.

6. Many times depositions are requested when there are suspected hidden assets.

7. When one spouse’s legal team requests the other spouse to produce documents like bank statements, tax returns, financial documents or otherwise it is known as a request or notice for the production of documents.

8. Subpoena orders a witness to appear before a court or at a deposition.

9. Requests for inspection is when a spouse is in possession of some asset or financial documentation relevant to the settlement and the other spouse has reason to review or otherwise inspect or have access to them.

10. Hiding assets can have criminal and civil consequences.

11. It is very expensive and complicated to appeal your Final Judgement of Divorce (Divorce Decree). There usually must be compelling circumstances specific to legal error, abuse of discretion and/or fraud. Most have a low chance of success. There are often time limits to file an appeal.

12. Formal Modifications to your Judgement of Divorce (Divorce Decree) may be possible and are generally straight forward when both spouses agree. A Petition to Modify must still be filed and the modification must be granted by a judge. If both spouses do not agree, then the spouse seeking the modification would need to demonstrate to the court a convincing and on-going change of circumstances (e.g. loss of job, job transfer, medical event) as a reason to seek the modification. If you and your spouse agreed to a Settlement Agreement, the court will usually expect a reasonable amount of time to have passed in order for there to have been significant changes to induce the Petition to Modify.