6. What is mediation?

A process where you and your attorney and your spouse and their attorney meet with a neutral third person (usually another attorney or mental health professional or accountant) to try to settle your case. Most cases do settle short of trial.   Nothing you or your spouse offers in mediation can be used against either one of you if you don’t settle your case.

7. How can I get my spouse to support me or pay the bills? Can my spouse be forced to send the 

    children to college?

Once the lawsuit begins, you can petition the court for temporary support. Before the lawsuit has begun, there is no mechanism for forcing your spouse to  provide support.

No. Since children become adults once they turn 18 or graduate from high school (even if they are up to 19 years old) neither you nor your spouse can be forced to support your children in any way including paying for college or post high school education.

8. Will I get more because my spouse has committed adultery?

Maybe, but only if you can prove that your spouse spent a lot of marital money or assets on their "friend".

9. How can I best financially prepare for a divorce?

Gather all of your financial records and keep them in a safe place. You might also want to cancel joint credit cards and lines of credit and split money in the bank in half.

10. If my spouse wanted the divorce, will they have to pay the attorneys fees?

 

               No. The court mostly considers how the financial resources are split between the two of  

               you in determining who pays the attorneys fee.

 

THE LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW MERLO, P.A.