Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Blog

If you reside within Broward County and are having marital problems, it is highly likely that you have or will consult with a divorce lawyer. Before meeting with a divorce attorney in Fort Lauderdale, there are five things that you need to hear about a divorce. In my blog posted yesterday, I discussed two of the five things that you should know before speaking to your marital and family law divorce attorney in Florida. Today I will discuss the remaining three topics.

Hire A Lawyer Who Will Work With You

Educate yourself about your rights so that you can direct your lawyer. You need to make decisions with your lawyer together. Fire a lawyer that you feel uncomfortable with sooner rather than later because after a while, he or she will be too entrenched in your case.

Face Today's Tough Economy

The current economic climate has made divorce more complex than ever. Because a couple's most valuable asset is often their home, and mot homes have lost some if not all of their value, selling a home and splitting the sale 50-50 is less attractive than ever. Many couples are putting off divorce until their financial situation improves. This way, homes and investment portfolios do not have to be sold and split with neither party making any money.

Consider Legal Alternatives

For couples that are going to be amicable, collaborative law may be the better way to go. During the collaborative process, both parties have independent lawyers and sign a contract to stay out of court. If the process fails and the parties need to take their divorce case to court, they need to start from scratch and hire new lawyers.

Other couples may consider attending mediation as soon as possible. In mediation, an independent third party helps the husband and wife reach a marital settlement agreement. Lawyers are present during the mediation process to advise their clients.

Not many people enter into a marriage thinking that it will eventually lead to a divorce in Fort Lauderdale. Many scientists believe that up to 40% of marriages are terminated in Broward County by a divorce lawyer. The chances are very high that you or someone you know will get divorced in Florida and need to higher a marital and family law attorney in Hollywood, Hallandale, Weston, Pembroke Pines, Cooper City or any of the other cities within the jurisdiction of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court.

A divorce is one of the worst things that you can go through in life. You are hurt, sad, frustrated, scared and can not think clearly. It is also one of the most important times to keep on top of your game, as the decisions that you make during this time can affect you for the rest of your life. Here are five basic but important guidelines to keep in mind.

Keep Your Business Head

A divorce can be emotionally draining. Do not burn your spouses belongings, slash their tires, grab your children and the retirement account and make a run for the border. Instead, you need to act rationally during this time. See a therapist, join a divorce support group and talk to your close friends. Divorce is a business negotiation, and you have got to think with your business head.

Grow Up And Take Control

Many women and professionals are in the dark about the marital finances. You will need to make copies of you and your spouses tax returns, credit card statements, bank accounts and bills so that you can make a budget and determine what you are entitled to financially. Some lawyers recommend "dumpster diving" for information that your spouse tried to hide from you that was thrown out in the garbage can or putting keyboard sweeping software on shared home computers to find out about hidden bank accounts, businesses or adulterous relationships.

In my next blog, I will continue with the remaining three things that every married person needs to hear about divorce. This will include hiring a lawyer, facing today's tough economy and legal alternatives.

Prior to filing for your divorce in Broward County, Florida, your divorce lawyer may want to hire a private investigator to catch your spouse cheating on you. If it is discovered that your spouse has cheated on you, this is a factor that the Fort Lauderdale divorce court may consider in awarding your alimony. However, hiring a private investigator to help your divorce lawyer find out if your spouse is cheating on you at a restaurant or hotel in Hollywood, Weston, Pembroke Pines or Cooper City, Florida with a paramour may become expensive.

GPS, or global position system tracking, is a useful tool that may be used to catch your spouse cheating. GPS systems cost less than $1,000.00 for certain models. During your dissolution of marriage case, a party that owns a car can may be able to conceal a GPS system in a glove compartment or other hiding place legally.

Electronic toll information has now become a thing of the past because of the fact that GPS information is more detailed. Last year, 88 percent of divorce lawyer reported an increase in using electronic information such as GPS and toll-pass date and computer records.