Article Written By: Tamika Armstrong
When talking about divorce attorneys Alexandria, reference is being made to lawyers whose job involves representing clients who want to legally end their marriages. This incorporates many tasks, from counseling to preparing documents and, perhaps, even appearing in court. They are obliged to do all these duties within the parameters of the law.Before the legal process can be set in motion, it is necessary for the lawyer and the client to meet. During this first consultation, the client will explain his or her reasons for wanting to get divorced and any other information to support the application. With this knowledge, the attorney can determine the client's chance of success and whether there are, in fact, legitimate grounds for applying for divorce.The spouse who is filing the application is called the claimant or plaintiff. The lawyer will prepare a legal summons for delivery to the other spouse (defendant). This document is a notification that the plaintiff wants to end the marriage.It also informs the defendant that he or she has a certain time period in which to either accept the divorce petition or reject it. Acceptance is legally referred to as uncontested, while rejection is referred to as contested. If the defendant intends to contest the application, the matter may have to go court and be settled by a judge.If this happens, the two spouses will be represented by individual attorneys. The only way to avoid a court case is if both lawyers can convince their clients to settle the matter out of court. This is achieved by devising a settlement agreement that is accepted by the plaintiff and the defendant. This has the potential to be a drawn-out affair, especially if the couple is disputing particular clauses.If both parties reach an amicable agreement, the legal preparation of the settlement document can go ahead. This will include a comprehensive breakdown of their combined and individual assets, investments, and anything else that has been acquired during the marriage. These will be proportioned to each spouse as agreed upon. If children under the age of 18 are involved, the document will outline custodial issues, visitation rights, and child support.Some essential personal attributes are required by divorce attorneys Alexandria. During the course of their work, they frequently have to deal with emotive, angry, or frustrated clients. As such, they need to have a calm, patient, tolerant, and compassionate demeanor. Lawyers who are successful in divorces are those who can also think clearly and objectively.
This Article Has Been Published on Fri, 6 May 2011 and Read 339 Times