What are some of the things to think about when considering a divorce in Louisville? What are some of the basics about a Louisville divorce which apply in all cases? What are some of the most important facts most people may not realize as they approach a divorce?
The first thing you need to know about divorce in Louisville is there doesn’t have to be “grounds” for filing for divorce. All divorces in Louisville and throughout Kentucky are presumed to be based upon “irreconcilable differences.” This means issues such as infidelity and the behavior of each or both of the parties will not have much (if any) of an impact on the division of community property, maintenance or most other issues associated with the divorce itself. In order to file for a divorce in Kentucky one of the parties must have resided in our State for six months, you must have “lived apart” (ceased all marital relationship) for 60 days and one of the parties will be required to testify that nothing can be done to save the marriage, that the marital relationship is irretrievable.
Another of the important things to think about when considering a divorce in Louisville is the type of process you would prefer to experience. The choices of each party and how they conduct themselves will have a substantial impact on every aspect of the divorce. It is important to know, from the outset, the cost of your divorce and the time it takes to complete are directly tied to the level of disagreement between you and your former spouse, and your ability to resolve or reach a settlement on these issues. Your own personal choices, and the decisions you make as spouses approaching the divorce will have a significant impact on the emotional price of the process, as well as the time it will take and the amount it will ultimately cost.
It is important to know that more than 80% of divorces in Kentucky are originally filed by one of the parties without legal representation. However, less than half of these cases (and an even higher percentage of cases involving children, business ownership or substantial assets) are completed without both parties being represented by an attorney. Those who attempt to manage a divorce on their own are often overwhelmed by the specificity of the documents required by the Court, the processes associated with completing every issue in the case and the time it takes to get things done on your own. One local judge recently noted that it took most people more than a year of trying on their own and in the end the process couldn’t be completed without attorneys.
Communication is another of the things to think about when considering a divorce in Louisville. You need to realize that everything you say in a voicemail, write in an e-mail, note or text or post to social media can and will be used against your interests in a divorce. You need to carefully pre-plan for divorce and develop important strategies to efficiently guide you through each step while protecting your own interests.
You need the experienced, proven advice and counsel of the divorce and family law attorneys at Dodd & Dodd. 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.
