Read the Papers
The papers relating to divorce must be carefully reviewed. The papers could contain many details that the spouse should be aware of. The court in which the divorce action was filed should be listed on the divorce papers. This information can be useful if one of the spouses has filed for divorce in another state. A deadline must be specified on the divorce papers so that a response can be given. If the spouse has retained an attorney, the divorce papers should indicate whether he or she is filing the paperwork alone.
The divorce papers could also allege grounds for divorcing. They might also discuss the requests of the moving party, such as information about child support and spousal support, division property, and other matters related to the children.
Send a response
You should include on the divorce papers the number of days a person must respond to the petition or complaint. The period is typically 30 days from the date the divorce papers were served to the spouse. This information should be confirmed by the spouse. The deadline can be extended without the spouse responding so that the other spouse may receive all the information requested in the divorce paperwork.
A person will usually respond through an attorney. If a person is unable to pay for an attorney, they may need to respond on their own. If the spouse fails to respond, he or she may lose his or her legal rights. In most cases, the person responding to a complaint must reply to every numbered statement and not issue a general denial.
An attorney can be hired
A divorce can have a profound impact on someone’s life. It is crucial to seek legal counsel as soon as possible. Even if the spouse receiving the paperwork feels that he or she agrees with the allegations and divorce proceedings, the divorce family law firm surrey can review the documents and inform the spouse about his or her legal rights. The spouse will be able to advocate for himself or herself if the case becomes contentious.
If the spouse has an attorney, one must retain one. This is to ensure that the spouses are not on an uneven footing. An attorney may be available to a spouse for limited purposes, such as filing a response and representing them in court. If finances are a concern and the person cannot afford a lawyer to fulfill all of their legal duties in the divorce proceedings, this is something to consider.
Gather Documents
A lawyer will ask the spouse to bring certain documents with him or her to the first consultation if he or they contacts the spouse. Documents that give identifying information such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and social security cards are some of the preliminary documents that a spouse might need.
The spouses will likely have to collect financial documents. These documents include statements that show how much each person has been paid, their last three years of tax returns, and bank statements. These documents are needed to identify the assets, income, and debts of the household for purposes later in the divorce process.
Protect your assets
Divorced individuals should talk about how to protect their assets. Some jurisdictions require that all assets be frozen immediately after a divorce petition has been filed. Asking your spouse if he or she should take half the money from joint accounts within the jurisdiction is a good idea.
If the spouse receives income directly from a joint account, they should open a separate bank account to redirect the funds to it. As divorce can be expensive due to all the legal fees and expenses, he or she should look into ways to save. To check the spouse’s financial health and find out if there have been any new debt, he or she should pull a credit card report.
Protect Communications
To avoid being discovered by their spouses during divorce proceedings, spouses must ensure that their mail is properly rerouted. Legal professionals may send letters containing strategic plans. This information should not be disclosed to the spouse. Postal boxes can be used to protect confidential communications and privacy.