how do i find out who was the lawyer in a divorce case

by Cleora Nicolas 9 min read

Contact your spouse's attorney. If you know your spouse has retained an attorney, you can contact him and ask if a divorce has been filed. However, the attorney has a duty of confidentiality to his client and is under no obligation to give you any information.

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What to look for in a good divorce attorney?

Depending on when the party or parties filed the divorce and in which state and county the court granted the divorce, divorce records can be accessed online using the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system or the state or national archives. Members of the public can utilize archives to search for divorce records, but records regarding recent divorces may not be …

How do you find a good divorce lawyer?

How to choose a good divorce attorney?

What questions to ask a divorce attorney?

 · A great way to assess whether your lawyer is up for the job is by reading reviews of past clients who have had emotionally charged divorces. Knowing that you’re working with a lawyer who understands your emotions but doesn’t operate from a place of emotions can sometimes prove invaluable to some clients. Understand Your Budget

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How do you deal with a vindictive husband in a divorce?

It's not easy dealing with a vindictive spouse during a divorce, but there are things you can do to minimize the impact of his or her actions.Remain Calm. ... Pay Attention to Your Behavior. ... Don't Stop Talking to Your Spouse. ... Consider Your Financial Future. ... Avoid Putting Your Children in the Middle.

How do you win everything in a divorce?

6 Divorce Tactics to Win a CaseEstablishing a Solid Defence. In highly contested divorces, both spouses will have a reason why they believe the courts should agree in their favor. ... Forming an Attack Theory. ... Building a Compelling Story. ... Dissipating Any Anger. ... Rehabilitating Your Client. ... Negotiating the Agreement.

How can a woman protect herself in a divorce?

Whenever possible, make a good faith attempt to work things out, and always weigh the consequences of your actions.If you have children, consider staying in the family home. ... Don't allow your spouse to take the children and leave. ... Get an attorney. ... Safeguard personal papers and make copies of important records.More items...

How do you avoid getting screwed in a divorce?

Sign up for National Breaking News AlertsDig into your spouse's business. ... Protect your flanks. ... Nail down any money you brought to the marriage. ... Go after the pension and retirement accounts. ... Don't expect permanent alimony. ... Fight for health benefits, when you don't have your own group plan.More items...•

What should a woman ask for in a divorce settlement?

5 more things to ask for in a divorce settlement agreement Co-parenting plan. Relationship building. Documentation. Money.

How do you fight a narcissist in a divorce?

Divorcing a NarcissistDon't Even THINK That Your Divorce Will Be Amicable. ... Get a Strong, but Reasonable, Divorce Lawyer. ... Get a Therapist. ... Assemble Your Support Team BEFORE You Divorce. ... Get EVERYTHING in Writing! ... Stay Out of Court as Much as You Can. ... Find Ways Your Narcissistic Spouse Can “Win” ... Pick Your Battles Wisely.More items...

Is my wife entitled to half my savings?

If you live in one of the community property states – Arizona, Wisconsin, California, Washington, Idaho, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico or Nevada – the law treats all the money you saved as being equally owned by both of you.

Can I empty my bank account before divorce?

Understanding Joint Accounts This means that either owner would be allowed to empty the account at any time, regardless of which person deposited the funds. During a divorce, any assets or funds contained in a joint account are considered marital property.

What happens financially in a divorce?

Possessions, money, financial assets, and debt acquired during (and sometimes before) marriage are divided between former spouses. In fact, divorcing individuals need a more than 30% increase in income, on average, to maintain the same standard of living they had prior to their divorce.

Can a spouse withdraw money without permission?

You won't have access to the funds unless your spouse is by your side when you arrive at the bank. There are benefits to adding your spouse to your bank account, even though it offers full rights to withdraw the money without your permission. A joint account means your spouse can deposit and withdraw money for you.

What should you not do during separation?

Separation & Divorce: 5 Things You Should Never DoDon't Pass On Getting Expert Legal Advice. ... Don't Rely On Advice From Friends. ... Avoid Overspending. ... Don't Publicise Your Issues on Social Media. ... Don't Lose Sight Of What's Best For Your Kids.

What men should do in a divorce?

How Should a Man Prepare for Divorce?Step 1: Do Your Research. ... Step 2: Get Organized Financially. ... Step 3: Protect your Privacy. ... Step 4: Prepare a Record of Your Personal Property. ... Step 5: Prepare for Custody (If you have children) ... Step 6: Note Important Contact Information. ... Step 7: Take Care of Yourself.More items...•

What type of attorney do I need for divorce?

What Type of Attorney do I Need? When you're getting a divorce, you'll need an attorney who is experienced in family law matters. A old college friend who now practices medical malpractice law isn't likely to be the best choice to handle your divorce. Different areas of the law have different rules and requirements.

What is the demeanor of a divorce lawyer?

Some lawyers pride themselves on an aggressive demeanor, while others highlight their ability to collaborate and settle most divorces without a drawn-out courtroom battle. Your needs, your personality, and your spouse's demeanor in the divorce will also affect the type of attorney best suited to your case.

How to find an attorney in Nolo?

If you're unsure where to begin your search, you can start by reviewing Nolo's Lawyer Directory. Nolo's online directory allows you to look for attorneys by practice area and provides a detailed profile with each attorney's experience, philosophy, and expertise. Your local state bar is another resource for finding an attorney trained to handle divorces.

Can a single attorney give legal advice?

A single attorney can't ethically give good legal advice to two people in adverse positions. While some couples choose to use a single attorney to draw up divorce paperwork, that attorney legally only represents one of the spouses.

Is divorce hard?

It can be the difference between feeling like you have an advocate to protect you, or feeling like you're fighting a battle alone. Divorce is hard, but an experienced divorce lawyer can take on some of that burden and help you achieve your goals. Find out more about what to look for when choosing a divorce attorney.

Can a lawyer represent both spouses in divorce?

The short answer is "no." The professional rules of conduct govern ing lawyers prohibit attorneys from representing both spouses in a divorce. This would create a conflict of interest for the attorney, since your interests, rights, and needs in a divorce are adverse to your spouse's. A single attorney can't ethically give good legal advice to two people in adverse positions.

What to do if you have ever been involved in a lawsuit?

Here are a few suggestions: 1. If they have ever been involved in a lawsuit, their lawyer would have likely filed an appearance in the case. 2. If they own a business, the attorney might be listed on the corporate information... 1 found this answer helpful. found this helpful.

Is an attorney-client privileged?

The attorney-client is Privileged. Unless published in a case or in the news there should be no access to the relationship. You can speak with an Intellectual Property attorney regarding this privilege.

How to get divorce certificate?

To obtain the divorce decree or certificate or confirmation that such documents exist, the most direct solution is to locate the clerk’s office for the court that handled the case, and submit an electronic or hard copy request to that office.

How to request a sealed divorce?

How to request sealing of divorce records. To request that your divorce records be sealed, go to the court that has jurisdiction over divorces in the area – the same one that handled or is handling your divorce. This may be a family court or a district court.

What is included in a divorce file?

However, a complete file of divorce records also includes the initial complaint or motion for divorce, as well as other motions and documents filed in the court during the case. Many states, such as New Jersey, make public all documents filed in the case.

How long does a divorce record have to be sealed?

On the other hand, some states seal divorce records as a matter of course; for example, New York State seals all divorce records for a period of 100 years after the divorce.

How much does it cost to get a copy of divorce papers?

Departments typically charge a fee of $10-20 to confirm whether records are available and/or to provide copies.

Is a divorce decree public?

Divorce Records – Are They Always Public, and How do I Find Them? Divorce records, which include the divorce certificate and divorce decree, are typically public. At minimum, anyone searching for a divorce record will be able to find out whether two individuals are divorced. However, if records are sealed, anyone who is not a party to ...

Do you have to seal a divorce?

You must file a motion to seal the records, which typically requires a notarized affidavit, and indicates which records you want to seal. You do not have to request to seal the entire divorce record; you may choose to ask to seal only part of the record or a particular document.

What happens if an attorney liases with your spouse?

If an attorney manages to liase many or all all your issues, then you have already lost, especially if they have told you not to talk to the spouse and they have served their purpose by fait accompli. If it comes down to money, you have lost, that is the level of basic understanding marriage has become for males.

What happens if you appeal a family court decision?

If you do decide to appeal the decisions of the family court, the Supreme Court, no less, will very likely uphold and support the malfeasance of the family court because the antics of the lower court personnel mirror those of the Supreme Court. I bet the family court personnel have recognized this and are busy minting.

How can you create debt?

Like federal scrip, you can create debt by articulating an argument on paper. That is what statutory law is, the creation of debt. On average if the paperwork is not a valid contract it is simply at best a billable script called attorney ‘work product’. know the difference, an attorney is a processor of statutory law.

Did the gal investigate any of the leads I gave him?

The gal did not investigate any of the leads I gave him. The magistrate had a stay for seven months. And the clerk of courts refused to send out the subpoenas. The clerk of courts told my attorney’s staff they were to short of staff to fax the subpoenas over my attorney’s office the day before the trial.

Do judges know the laws in Florida?

And your are right, the judges dont know the laws and/or the Florida Statutes, so no one should take for granted that they do. But the reality is,,they dont know them because they dont have to know them, because they just fly by the seat of their pants and there is no one to check them.

Do we own our attorneys?

Absolutely ! Most have no idea that here in the USA, we do not own our attorneys when we hire them. Attorneys are agents of the court. In essence, we only rent attorneys to represent us in our legal matters. An attorney’s (demanded) allegiance is always to the court first. The client and his/her interests come dead last. The BAR Association (British Attorney Registry) demands that each attorney collude and work for the court. A “client’s best interest” is only a phrase used by attorney’s to catch more clients and make more cash. Attorneys make great actors, they need to be good actors as in many court rooms, they are only acting a part where the script has already been written.

How to get a copy of divorce papers?

One of the easiest ways to get a copy is to go to the county office where the divorce was finalized. You can either request a copy in person or by phone and if it’s available, you can also check if the county who has the records offer online requests. Be prepared to complete a request form that would include the basic information about the divorce and also be ready to pay a fee depending on the county regulations.

How to get divorce records for free?

There is also an option to get certified copies of the divorce certificate via state vital records.

How long are divorce papers stored?

Remember that all attorneys will have their records stored and these divorce records are available for years even after the divorce has been finalized. Keep in mind that you may be charged for the photocopy of the said document

What is a summary of divorce process?

A summary of the processes include that the couple agrees to proceed with the divorce and that both parties would then agree to come to an agreement. Once everything has been finalized and when the judge has already issued an order then the couple would receive their divorce certificate.

What information do you need to get divorced?

We all know that it’s vital to get information such as birth dates, complete names and the county where the divorce was finalized. Secondary information such as the husband and wife’s maiden name, location, date and even the court number case will greatly help you in finding the records that you will need.

What does it mean when a divorce is filed under seal?

Now, when a court files divorce records under seal this means that they would become private and this may include part or the entire record. There should be a request to seal the records first and ...

How long does it take to get divorce records?

In a few minutes or days you can get the divorce records that you will need.

What to ask if your spouse filed for divorce?

If you strongly believe your spouse has filed for divorce, then the next two questions you might be asking are: (1) should I accept or dodge service; and (2) what do I do after being served with divorce papers.

Where do you file for divorce in Arizona?

In Arizona, all divorces have to be filed in Superior Court. All Superior Courts are divided up by county. So, if your spouse filed, then most likely he/she filed in the Superior Court in the county where you both live. If you were already physically separated, then you’ll probably want to look at the Superior Court docket in both the county where you live and where your spouse lives (if different). For those that live on the border of two counties, it can be common for the parties to file in the adjacent county, so you might need to search the neighboring county as well. For example, a lot of people who live in south Queen Creek will still file in Maricopa County, even though they technically live in Pinal County.

What happens if you see a charge for the clerk of the Superior Court?

If you see a recent charge that is for the “Clerk of the Superior Court” and/or for the exact amount of the divorce filing fee in the county where you and your spouse live, then it’s very likely that your spouse filed for divorce.

Can you search for a divorce lawyer?

If such a charge exists, it may or may not show the exact name of the firm. If it does, you can search the firm on the internet and see what type of law they practice. If family law is included, then you guessed it, your spouse probably filed for divorce, or at least is thinking about it.

Is divorce important in Arizona?

Similarly, the date you get served with divorce papers is legally significant (at least in Arizona).

Can you change your plans for divorce?

You may want to change current plans if you know a divorce is imminent. A divorce is a life-changing event (for better or worse), which is really a process that takes months, or more. So, you might not want to follow through with certain plans if a divorce is on the horizon, such as a big family vacation, starting a new business, changing jobs, etc.

Do you have to pay a filing fee for divorce?

If you have joint accounts with your spouse, you can review those accounts to see if there has been a charge for a filing fee. Unless your spouse filed to defer the filing fee (which is based on financial needs), he/she would have paid the Clerk of the Court a filing fee when the divorce was filed. Each county has its own filing fee amount.

How to know if my spouse is divorced?

1. Contact your spouse's attorney. If you know your spouse has retained an attorney, you can contact him and ask if a divorce has been filed. However, the attorney has a duty of confidentiality to his client and is under no obligation to give you any information.

What to do if sheriff has divorce papers?

If you find out the sheriff has divorce papers for you, arrange to pick them up as soon as possible. Avoiding service doesn't stop the divorce.

How to find out if you have been separated?

Contact state Vital Statistics office. If you have been separated with little or no contact for at least a year, there is a chance your spouse may have completed a divorce without your knowledge. She may have lied about not knowing your location and the court granted the divorce by default when you failed to respond. Each state has a vital statistics office where they record all marriages, births, deaths, and final divorces. Some states have searchable databases, others require that you request the information by mail. There may be a fee for this service. Start with the most likely states and work your way out.

How long can a divorce be filed?

Typically, divorce can only be filed in states where one party has lived for at least six months and the county were one party has lived from one to three months. The first county on the list will be where you live. The next, if you are separated, is where your spouse lives.

What happens when a marriage goes wrong?

When a marriage goes wrong, a common threat you may hear is, "I've filed for divorce and am taking everything!". Another scenario is that you've heard rumors that your estranged spouse is dating or has remarried, which is a surprise because you didn 't know you were divorced . Most often, it is a nagging suspicion that something is wrong.

How long does it take to get a summons for divorce?

If you receive a Summons, you must respond by the date on the document, usually 20 days after receipt. Thanks!

What to do if your spouse disappeared?

Your goal is to narrow your initial search as much as possible. Divorce is an action of state law. As a result, there is no national compilation of divorce records.

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