Deciding to get a divorce is a difficult, and often painful, decision. Figuring out what to do after you file for divorce can be confusing and stressful. If the marriage was short, there are no children involved and a small amount of property or debts to take care of, the process will be over quickly. If the marriage lasted a long time, there’s children involved, there’s a significant amount of property or debt involved, or the spouses have hostility or resentment towards each other, the process could take much longer to settle. A divorce lawyer consultation can help you figure out what documents you will need to file. Here are some additional steps to follow to make sure your divorce goes as smoothly as possible.
File For A Temporary Order
The first step after filing a petition for divorce is to get your finances and custody arrangements in order. Hiring the best lawyer for divorce in San Antonio, TX, will help you significantly. If you depend on your spouse for financial support, you will want to get a temporary order for support. A stay-at-home parent, for example, can file a temporary petition to continue to receive financial support from their soon-to-be ex-spouse. Plus, they can file a temporary order for custody of any children involved. If you are filing for divorce and want to get a temporary order, you should file them at the same time. If you have received divorce papers and want to get a temporary order, you should file the request as soon as possible.
File A Service Of Process And Get A Response
The next step is to file for a proof of service of process. This document verifies that a copy of the divorce petition was given to the other party. A divorce lawyer can help you understand what the document entails. If you and your spouse agreed to get divorced, then you can send the file to their attorney. Once your spouse has received the service of process file, they need to file a response. They can dispute the grounds for divorce; dispute facts alleged as grounds for divorce; and note any disagreements involving property division, custody, or any other issues.
Negotiate Differences Or Go To Trial
Hiring the best divorce lawyer to represent you and your interests is your best move if you and your spouse go into negotiations to settle your differences. A court may schedule a settlement conference to try and get both parties to find an agreeable solution. If no agreement is reached, the court might order meditation or an evaluation of any children and parents via a social worker or other court employee. The court might also appoint a legal guardian to represent the children.
If there is still no resolution, then a decision will have to be made at trial. Working with the best divorce attorney or an aggressive divorce lawyer can help you win your case at trial. However, trials cost a lot of money and the results are less predictable, so you should do your best to avoid this if possible.
If you want to find out what else you should do after filing for divorce or are ready to begin the divorce process, call The Law Office of Steven C Benke at 210-308-0004 for a free consultation.