Prior to going to court to settle your divorce, it is important to know that settling without a hearing can make things easier. This can save time and money, and it can also be less damaging to the co-parenting relationship if you have children. This additional drama can lead to your children feeling the tension and further damage the family function. If settling outside of court is not possible, there are a few recommendations to consider.
First, you will want to take everything into account and work to narrow it down to four or five main points. These points can be written down in phrases such as “his inability to communicate…” from there, you can choose a few of the best examples. These examples are best if they can be proven by a form of communication with your partner (such as email or text). Ideally the examples will be ones that are by email or can be confirmed in some other way. You can then review these points with your attorney and make sure they are good choices. Next, you can insist that your attorney role-play asking you questions that will be included in the “cross examination” at trial. Lastly, before your court date, you can sit in the back of a courtroom during an open custody case as a way to get you accustomed to the process.
These are just a few of the many pieces of advice offered by the Cooperative Parenting Blog, click here to see more.
Click here to contact a Vancouver WA family law attorney who wants to help you through this process, whether you settle outside of court or go to trial.