What are some of the things to consider before contacting a Louisville divorce attorney? After decades of representing clients in Louisville and Jefferson County before our Family Court, the divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd have a few thoughts for those who are thinking about a divorce.
The first and most important suggestion would be to understand that the cost of your divorce and the time it takes from beginning to completion are directly associated with the level of disagreement between you and your (soon to be) former spouse, and your ability to work through disagreements to reach resolution.
Every single issue associated with your Louisville divorce case, including child custody and visitation, the division of marital property and assets including retirement accounts and business interests, as well as issues of child support and maintenance (spousal support) must be completely resolved before the divorce can be finalized.
One of the next most important things to consider before contacting a Louisville divorce attorney is that anger and emotion almost always lead to poor decisions and in many cases regret. Take the time to think about what you want your life to look like after the divorce and the things that are most important to you. We help our clients to consider every aspect of the process in front of them in manageable steps, prioritize their objectives and establish proper strategies and expectations regarding the steps associated with your divorce.
Some of the hardest and most concerning challenges most couples face are associated with child custody and parenting time or visitation. Child custody and visitation should give consideration and priority to the best interests of each child, and the existing rhythms of their life and activities. Absent serious issues such as abuse, domestic violence or alcohol or drug addiction Kentucky believes it is in the best interests of a child to spend consistent, regular quality time with each parent. What would that schedule look like in your unique situation?
Finances are important things to consider before contacting a Louisville divorce attorney. Both spouses have a fiduciary duty (a substantial legal obligation) to continue to act in the best interests of a spouse and make a full, transparent and accurate disclosure of all debts, assets, bank accounts, investments and business interests. Financial consideration regarding child support and maintenance will be based upon multiple factors and this will help you to plan how things will work through the process of your divorce, as well as in the future once the division of marital property (and debts) is completed and all issues within your case have been resolved.
Business or professional practice ownership presents unique challenges in any divorce. The valuation of the business interest and ultimately the disposition of these assets are an area which will require careful planning and skilled representation.
It is important to work with experienced, proven attorneys who will work to help resolve areas of disagreement efficiently while protecting your interests with sound advice and counsel. Allen Dodd has decades of experience in Louisville divorce cases. Our clients value the understanding he brings to their matter and the legal skill with which he represents them as well as the steps everyone in our firm takes to help to make the experience less burdensome for our clients.
There are a lot of things to think about before filing for divorce in Louisville. We invite you to review the recommendations of our clients and contact us or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with Allen Dodd or one of our family law attorneys. Careful planning can help to prepare you for the process of the divorce while protecting your goals and interests at each step.
