Duties of a Divorce Lawyer

A divorce lawyer is the one that people see to help them with the legal ending of their marriage. Both the husband and wife will need to justify and validate their reasons for the divorce and why they are no longer living together as husband and wife. The lawyer will have the evidence that supports their client's claim. In cases where the marriage has broken down on hostile grounds the divorce lawyer will need to prove that the complaints being filed by their client is valid. This is especially true if they are claiming that they have been assaulted by their spouse, the marriage was violent, danger to the children, or infidelity.

In addition to pleading their client's case in court there are other duties that a divorce lawyer has to do before even getting to court. These can include:

• Interviewing their client and getting all the necessary information from them. A divorce lawyer has to know the divorce case in detail and not be judicialal and completely biased towards their client. This is necessary to ensure that their client wins.
• Having to complete all the paperwork that is necessary and getting documentation of proof to be submitted to family court.
• Creating a statement that states all the testimony, statements, arguments, and allegations from their client.
• Formulating a draft or motion of evidence so they can prove the contents in the divorce case.
• Attending the court sessions when called upon for the hearing date for the divorce case.
• Determining the ratio in how any alimony or child support payments are to be made and how the property is to be divided. When it is a "at fault" divorce, which is when either the husband or wife is guilty of the breakup of the marriage the guilty party will either receive no payment from the other party or they will have to pay more to the other party.

Having a divorce lawyer is usually necessary in a mutually mediated divorce, which is when both parties have come to terms with the procedure of separation. They have also agreed to accept the conditions and terms that relate to support and maintenance, property division, child care, and alimony payments. As a divorce lawyer it is their responsibility to inform their client about the different rights they have according to the law and how they use their rights to favor their case in court.

To become a divorce lawyer you will need to have a bachelor's degree, graduate law school with a Juris Doctor degree, and then pass the Bar exam and LSAT.

Source (opens in a new tab) by Lora Davis (opens in a new tab)