Your family law attorney can give you detailed guidance about the different aspects of a divorce. This includes explaining legal fees, retainer costs, and the court procedures that may be involved in your case. They will also represent your interests and work to protect you while helping reach the most favorable resolution possible.
It is also important to discuss alimony with your attorney. Alimony, or spousal support, is financial assistance that one former spouse may be ordered to pay the other after a divorce, often when there is a significant income difference between them. The purpose is to give the lower-earning spouse time to stabilize financially, secure employment, or adjust to a different cost of living. A judge may require monthly payments to the former partner. You may also have questions about how certain situations—such as living with a new partner—could affect spousal support, and your attorney can help clarify how these factors are handled.
Another issue people often worry about is what to do if a spouse is dishonest during the divorce process. Unfortunately, misrepresentation can occur in many cases, and spouses may provide inaccurate information in legal documents. A family law attorney can help you understand how to address this situation.
Common areas where dishonesty may occur include reporting income, hiding assets, misrepresenting the value of property, or making claims about a parent’s relationship with the children—especially when custody is involved. In some cases, allegations about child abuse, neglect, or spousal abuse may also arise during disputes.
You may then wonder how to handle a spouse who is not being truthful. In many cases, individuals who misrepresent their income are self-employed, since their earnings may be more difficult to verify. By contrast, employees who receive regular wages usually have pay stubs that clearly document their income. To uncover accurate information, your attorney may request financial documents, written responses to questions, statements of fact, and may also conduct a deposition. During a deposition, the attorney asks the other spouse questions under oath regarding matters related to the divorce.
Your lawyer will carefully review financial records that show income and expenses, including bank statements, profit-and-loss reports, ledgers, and accounts receivable and payable. In some cases, they may recommend hiring a financial professional or accountant to examine the records more closely. Your attorney may also begin the discovery process, which involves formally requesting information and documentation relevant to the case.
Working with an experienced family law attorney can help you navigate divorce and related family matters more effectively, even if your spouse provides inaccurate information. These professionals have handled many similar situations before and can guide you through the legal process while protecting your rights.