My son is currently on remand waiting trial. We have had a really tricky time over the last year learning about some of the things that he has been doing, but we want to make sure that we support him through the trial so that he can get a fair process. Having family on your side can help the prisoners to have an easier time at trial and can often help the lawyers to provide the strongest possible defence in court. This blog explains how family members can help to make sure that legal process goes smoothly and that the lawyers get all of the resources that they need.
According to the ABS, the divorce numbers in Australia decreased in 2014 by 1,140, while the median duration between marriage and divorce in 2014 was 12 years. While the decrease is promising, divorce is still a reality that many Australians have to go through. If you're planning to file for divorce, it pays to discuss the issue with your family lawyer. Prepare well with these actions before your divorce meeting.
Establish The Consequence You Want To Achieve And Discuss It With Your Family Lawyer
Going through a divorce is hard, but it is important that you objectively look at the consequence you want to achieve when discussing your case with your family lawyer. For example, are you looking for full custody or are you happy to share custody of your kids? Are you looking for a specific alimony amount if you're not working? Are you looking to live in the same house after divorce or do you want to sell it and share the proceeds with your spouse? At $330 per hour for family law solicitors in Australia, it pays to come well prepared for your meeting.
Prepare Details Of Your Financial Assets
When you visit a family lawyer to discuss divorce, you should ideally prepare details of your financial assets. This includes everything from bank statements and superannuation funds to mortgages and tax statements. If you have any debts on credit cards or personal loans, be sure to bring them along to your meeting. Bring statements of both tax returns to give your family lawyer a better understanding of how much income you and your spouse generate for the household. Discussing your financial assets at the start will help your family lawyer pinpoint any issues with your personal situation. For access to your tax returns, you can head to the ATO website. Call your bank and lenders to get access to bank and loan statements. If you have a MyGov account, you'll benefit from a centralised source for major documents.
Document Corroborations Supporting Your Claim For The Divorce
If you have any corroborations supporting your divorce claim, then bring it to your meeting with your family lawyer. For instance, if there is evidence of adultery or abuse in some way through text messages, phone calls or videos, then document and carry them to your meeting. This helps your lawyers assess your personal situation, so they can offer accurate legal counsel to help you gain the results you want from the divorce. Remember that you share a confidential relationship with your family lawyer, so this information cannot be passed on to others.
Be sure to undertake these preparatory actions before heading to your meeting with the family lawyer.
Share23 September 2016
