Family law cases can have a massive impact on your life and your finances. The law is complex and there are different legal rules for different situations. Fortunately, there are also simple truths that you can use to your advantage and protect yourself from common pitfalls. This article will help you understand the most common misconceptions in family law and give you the insights you need to fight for your rights.
You Must Be Willing to Fight
You can’t take advantage of all the rights you have in family law by being a passive, compliant party. If you don’t fight for your rights, they could get taken from you. It’s important to be proactive and assertive, but also cautious and aware of your own limitations. It’s easy to get emotional and make mistakes when you’re under stress and overwhelmed with anger. The courts are not emotional or irrational. They don’t care about your feelings and mistakes can have severe consequences. If you want to protect yourself and your loved ones, you have to be willing to fight.
You Must Be Accompanied by an Attorney
Attorneys handle complicated legal matters, including family law cases. If you’re representing yourself, you could end up making serious mistakes that could have devastating consequences. It’s a good idea to have an attorney present for your court dates and hearings, but you don’t have to hire an attorney if you don’t want to. If you don’t have the money to hire an attorney, you can still represent yourself in small ways. You can read up and ask an attorney friend or family member to be a mentor, or you can search online for self-help resources. If you represent yourself, you should know what you’re doing because you could end up making mistakes that are difficult to correct. You could also be negligent and neglect your responsibilities, including protecting your rights.
You Have Equal Rights
In some ways you have more rights than your spouse, because the rules are different for married couples. When you and your spouse are married, you are legally bound together. This makes it much more difficult to get a divorce. If you’re not married, there’s no legal relationship between you and your spouse. This means you don’t have a legal “duty of care” to your spouse. If you don’t want your spouse to lose the little things, like their home, you will have to be responsible for them. This could mean making sure your spouse has health insurance, that they have their insulin or other medication, and that they have a way to get their car fixed.
You Can’t Divorce Your Spouse Without a Legal Reason
One of the most common misconceptions about divorce is that you can just divorce your spouse for any reason. In most cases, there has to be a legal reason for you to get a divorce. This could be because your spouse has committed domestic violence or has committed a major crime. You must also prove your case and show the court that the marriage is irreparable. If the court decides that your marriage is irreparable, they will help you through the divorce process. This could include dividing assets, child custody, and child support. If you don’t have a legal reason to get a divorce, you could end up wasting resources and filing unnecessary motions. Divorce can be expensive, and you don’t want to go through all that work if it isn’t necessary. Having a divorce attorney on your side is one of the most important steps.
You Must Prove Your Case
In a family law case, the onus is on you to prove your case. This means that if your spouse wants to deny the allegations against them, they don’t have to prove anything. You have to prove your case. You must use the evidence that you have to support your case. You have the right to use any evidence or material from any source. This could include the testimony of friends, family members, doctors, and other professionals. You can also use written evidence, like financial documents or emails. You don’t have to prove your case in the same way that you have to prove a criminal case. You just have to make your case as best as you can, and the law will decide if it is enough.
You’re Entitled to Financial Support from Your Partner
In some cases, particularly when you’re the primary caretaker, you are entitled to financial support from your partner. This could include things like paying your mortgage or utilities, covering your car insurance or gas, and making the food in your house. It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean that your partner has to give you a job.
