Will you need an expert witness in your Louisville divorce proceeding? What is an expert witness and what are some of the circumstances which justify the cost of valuable expert testimony? Expert witnesses are simply proven professionals which provide important information to the Court regarding (usually) a complex aspect of the case at hand. In a divorce this can range from financial issues to child custody and visitation concerns to business valuation or finding and exposing hidden assets.
One of the most common reasons for an expert witness in your Louisville divorce is for the purpose of “valuation.” One of the most challenging aspects of any divorce is gaining a clear record before the Court of all assets and debts and a genuine, fair and accurate valuation of each specific asset. When it comes to complex assets such as a business or professional practice, unvested stock, or substantial investments it can be quite a challenge to reach agreement on a fair valuation of each.
Professional appraisers help to establish the valuation of assets such as investments, businesses or collections. If your former spouse is less than forthcoming about things or you believe they may be attempting to hide money or other assets a forensic accountant can work through financial records and tax returns to get to the bottom of things. The skilled strategies of the Divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd during the discovery phase of your case and throughout the process of property division help to cut through stall tactics, smokescreens and incomplete records.
Child custody and visitation is another area where you may need an expert witness in your Louisville divorce. If your former spouse is controlling, has a personality disorder such as Narcissism or bi-polar disorder or a drug or alcohol problem an expert may be brought in by the Court to analyze the situation and make recommendations to protect the best interests of the child(ren). This is especially true in highly contested cases or in the presence of domestic violence.
Expert witnesses can help to protect your interests, get to the facts of the case and expose inaccuracies or flat out attempts to hide assets or mislead the Court. The divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd work with a variety of experts when needed based upon the unique challenges of each case and the specific facts at hand.
We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and contact us or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced divorce and family law attorneys.
