If you're appearing before a divorce judge for any part of your divorce, you need to know about the common mistakes unrepresented parties you make in court. This is just as important as knowing what to do.
These common mistakes made by unrepresented parties in a divorce include. Each one is important so don't let the order of the listing fool you:
1. Appearing before a judge with no proof to support what you will say to the judge, and thinking that will be enough for the judge to decide in your favor.
2. Regardless of what is the question to be decided by the judge, not being prepared for, and clear about, most aspects of it.
3. Interrupting the judge in the middle of a question or comments.
4. Arguing with the other party, or interrupting him or her, in front of the judge.
5. Not Knowing what facts are important to decide a particular question; and instead, wasting the available time with facts that are not important or will help the judge decide the question.
6. Dressing for a court date like it's a picnic at a local park. At a minimum, you should dress in casual business casual attire; no ripped jeans or shirt/blouse.
7. Being late to the court date for any reason, even getting lost on your way there.
8. Not being organized with documents during the hearing or trial.
9. If you owe child support or other fees, not even attempting to make a partial payment prior to the hearing date.
10. Not being truthful or being evasive in answering questions from the judge.
11. Failing to see a lawyer at least once for a consultation on the law applicable to the questions in your divorce. This is one o the easiest ways to know what facts will be important for you to present to the judge, and what kind of proof (or evidence) you may need to bring with you.
With states providing self-help forms for you to do your own divorce, it is easy to think that is all there is to it. But there is a lot of information that can help you that the self-help divorce forms do not explain. You need information beyond the forms to make sure you are prepared to present your side of a case on any question that is important to you.
For more information about what you will face in divorce court, visit http://www.divorcecourtreport.com.
(c) 2008 Vivian Rodriguez
Vivian C. Rodriguez is a national consultant on case strategy on litigation and alternative dispute resolutions for parties headed for divorce court to avoid expensive and emotionally frustrating divorces. In Florida she is a family trial attorney and certified family mediator.
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