Family law is complicated, but there is one thing that does not have to be complex: gathering evidence. In order to pursue a divorce case or custody battle, you may need to gather documents pointing to living situations, finances, employment, and more.
Admitting evidence to the court is done through a process called discovery. Discovery prevents surprises from appearing in court. Thanks to discovery, both parties know what kind of testimony to expect in court. So, what do you need to know about going to court with a family law case? How can you prepare for discovery? Read on to learn more.
First, Respect Deadlines
First, you have to know that there are deadlines by which you need to respond to discovery notices. If you fail to object to discovery, you lose your rights to speak about it. The sooner you read and respond to discovery documents, the sooner you can compile documents, evidence, and answers to your questions. So, how can you avoid missing deadlines? Family law attorneys are well-versed in handling these matters, and hiring an attorney prevents you from having to do everything on your own.
Understand Objections to Discovery
There are specific circumstances in which you may object to items entered during discovery. For instance, a question may be entered into discovery that you object to. Consulting with an attorney helps you determine if you can legally object to a piece of evidence or question. An attorney will also fight back against objections to evidence and questions that you enter.
Be Prepared with All Necessary Documents
You need to gather a lot of evidence when you go to court. You will need everything from credit reports and bank statements to the documentation of child pickup and drop-off times. This can be difficult to wade through, especially because you may have never even looked at these documents in the past. Organization is important, and you need to ensure that you have these items at the ready.
Hire a Family Law Attorney
As you can see from this advice, hiring a family law attorney is one of the best things you can do to prepare for your court case. Your attorney understands the documents that you need for court as well as how to respond to discovery requests. Schedule a consultation today with a divorce lawyer. You have options, and your attorney will help you determine what needs to be done next.
Share28 July 2020
My name is Noni. When I was in college, I was hit by a car while crossing the street. My life was never in danger, but I did break a few bones and had a lot of huge medical bills. I was hoping I wouldn't have to get involved with an attorney, but unfortunately, it came down to that. I used a family friend who is an accident attorney to get some compensation. A few years later, I was hit while riding my bike and had to go through the same process. I suppose I'm lucky to be alive. And it's thanks to accident attorneys that I have been able to put my life back together. I started this blog as a way to let others know just how much lawyers can help you in certain situations.