It might surprise you to learn that you are the most important part of your divorce case. You know your former spouse much better than your attorney ever will. You know a lot more about all bank and investment accounts and liabilities and have access to important financial statements and information. You actually hold the keys to keeping the costs down in your own divorce as well as the ability to significantly speed up the process.
One of the most important issues in any divorce is the Date of Separation (DOS). The DOS has legally been established by the California Supreme Court to be the specific date when “a complete and final break in the marital relationship has occurred.” This must be evidenced by:
- The spouse has expressed to the other spouse his or her intent to end the marriage
- The conduct of the spouse is consistent with his or her intent to end the marriage
Organizing DOS statements and supporting records helps to prevent delays and costs associated with extensive “back and forths” between the parties and their counsel.
You are the most important part of your divorce case because you can control the flow of information and organization of supporting documentation. If the parties are not able to or are slow to cooperate with the production of underlying documentation our attorneys may need to get involved. In some cases, a former spouse may be attempting to conceal accounts, assets or the value of their business. You may not know how to uncover the truth or where the actual accounts are, but you can help provide insight which helps our investigators and forensic accountants to track this information down.
You are the most important part of your divorce case. Your actions will have a direct impact on the cost and timeliness of your divorce. The time you spend reviewing documents and information provided by the other party for accuracy and completeness will make a substantial difference in your case.