Terms You May Hear Working With Divorce Attorney in Grapevine, TX
As a divorce attorney in Grapevine, TX, I help people as they go through one of the most challenging times of their life. Getting a divorce is difficult emotionally and financially. It can be difficult for families to sort through their disagreements and to reach a point where they can resolve their issues and part ways without ongoing conflict. In some cases, this is never a possibility. Either way, having an expert lawyer on your side is important for ensuring that your rights and your future are protected.
Once you retain our services, we will walk you through the process, tell you what to expect and prepare a strategy that takes us to the finish line and beyond. It is important to ask us as many questions as you need to, since the more knowledge you have, the more comfortable with the process you will be. In the meantime, here are some terms that you may hear and what they can mean for your case.
- Hearing. As a divorce attorney in Grapevine, TX, we may call for a hearing to make a pre-trial motion. This is where we ask a judge to rule on a very specific and narrow issue. For example, we may make a motion for all new debt from that moment forward to be the sole responsibility of the spouse that is obtaining it. We may also make a motion for the existing parenting arrangement to be certified as the temporary parenting plan pending the results of the trial. These hearings give us the opportunity to put important things in place while your trial is pending.
- Discovery. This is where we find information that can be useful in your case. Remember that we must demonstrate to the judge why you should be awarded what you are asking for. It is not enough to ask that you receive child support or the house. We need to demonstrate why it should be given, and that requires the gathering of evidence, something that we do during the discovery phase. This often involves interrogatories (written questions that must be responded to) and a request for the production of documents (bank statements, pay stubs, receipts, etc.). Anything that may help to prove our case needs to be gathered now.
- Depositions. If you are being deposed, you will be asked a variety of questions under oath. Depositions are recorded by the court reporter, and your answers can be referenced in court so what you say is important. As a divorce attorney in Grapevine, TX, we will ensure that the other lawyer is not asking you any questions that would be beyond the scope of the case or inappropriate.
- Subpoena. If there is anyone that you want to be a witness for you or someone that you want to give testimony against your ex, they should be subpoenaed. This is the only way to guarantee that someone will show up for court. Even your close friends and family that say they will testify should be subpoenaed since they may need to show this to their boss in order to get the time off of work.
- Mediation. Before the trial, some judges will require mediation. This is an opportunity to negotiate through attorneys in order to get some of the issues resolved prior to going to court. Even if you cannot agree on everything, some people are able to resolve things like the furniture or certain financial accounts which saves time during the trial. If you cannot agree on everything, the trial will commence as planned.
As a divorce attorney in Grapevine, TX, we will work hard to protect your rights and to ensure that the outcome of your divorce is as positive as possible.