Navigating Divorce: How Family Lawyers Can Help You

Divorce is one of the hardest times of a person’s life. Accepting that a relationship is over, leaving behind years of memories, and navigating through the chaotic drama accompanying a divorce can unravel even the strongest of us. The situation worsens when children are involved, who often get caught in the crossfire and suffer emotionally due to their parents’ hostility towards one another.

Sad as it may be, divorce is a glaring reality in today’s world, and while Australia likes to believe that it’s much better off than other Western countries, divorce is becoming a concerning problem. In 2021, more than 50,000 divorce cases were finalized in the country, with most of these being decade-long marriages where the couple had spent all but a lifetime together. Of all Australian states, the biggest contributor to this high divorce count was New South Wales, where over 17,000 divorces were granted in 2021, a stark increase from previous years.

While these numbers speak of a harrowing situation, the real impact of this problem is felt by those directly affected by it. Those in the process of getting a divorce can often feel lost and confused. Having lost so much time and effort, people tend to become emotional and let their anger get the best of them during a divorce, which works in nobody’s favor.

The Role of Family Lawyers

While your friends and family can provide much-needed support during this time, you need legal assistance from family lawyers Newcastle has been witnessing a demand for. As per 2023 statistics, the average earnings of family lawyers in Australia is $107,746, further corroborating our point.

During a divorce, it is critical to remain level-headed and practical so that the situation can be as less painful as possible for the entire family and also so you can get a favorable outcome at the end. There are many intricacies involved in a divorce that only a family lawyer can help you with.

Let’s discuss these in more detail.

• Emotional Preparation

For you, your divorce is the most horrible experience of your life. For a family lawyer, it is another day at work. Family lawyers have seen and witnessed the trials that come along with dozens of divorce cases. The way former spouses attack each other, the suffering inflicted upon family members, and the grueling emotional war one must endure.

In truth, nobody is more qualified than a family lawyer to tell you exactly what to expect emotionally with your divorce. They will tell you about every challenge you will come across and teach you how to navigate every situation that comes your way emotionally. Simply put, your lawyer will prepare you for what lies ahead so you have a heads-up for bringing yourself to terms with it.

• Legal Understanding

Like most laws, family law is a complex field with many technicalities. Divorce is a minefield, where one wrong step can blow your entire case concerning child custody, visitation rights, alimony, etc. Having an expert in legal intricacies and law at your disposal can help you roll the tide in your favor. A family lawyer will immediately identify your strengths and weaknesses from a legal viewpoint and can better guide you on how to play at both.

Their intricate understanding and familiarity with the legal process will help you remain updated with all steps of the case and prevent you from making any technical errors that may prove detrimental to your matter.

• Negotiating Settlements

Divorce settlement negotiating is an art. Any negotiation requires a lot of skill, but the process becomes nearly impossible to navigate with a matter as sensitive and personal as a divorce. However, family lawyers are highly trained and experienced in handling these situations and negotiating a favorable settlement for their clients.

With a calm mind, family lawyers can get through to the other party and make them feel like they have the best interest of everyone involved in mind. It helps break down the defenses of the opposite side and makes them more accepting of a settlement offer that is fair to both parties of a divorce.

• Communication and Coordination

Lawyers are great multi-taskers, and one thing that they excel at is coordination. From appearing before different courts on the same day, juggling several client meetings, and handling work responsibilities, lawyers can do it all. With an attorney representing you, you can put your mind at ease and leave the coordination and initial communication to your counsel.

They will ensure the court orders are complied with, your responses are timely filed, and your case doesn’t fail due to any communication error.

• Legal Investigations

In cases where divorces are caused by infidelity, a family lawyer can be of great use by giving you access to important information regarding your ex-partner. Family lawyers have a well-connected network using which they can help you investigate your ex-partner. While some lawyers like to get their hands dirty and work on investigations themselves, others hire professionals. From gaining information about everyday activities to your ex-partner’s financial condition, an investigator will be able to procure valuable evidence that will help strengthen your case.

• Child Custody and Visitation

One of the most difficult aspects of a divorce is fights over child custody and visitation. Children of divorced parents tend to suffer a lot due to the strained relationship between their parents. Not only that, parents often end up getting caught in a legal battle where one of them has an advantage over another.

Using these tactics, parents attack one another and often use the alienation of children as a weapon against each other. A lawyer can help with these fights and speak for both parties fairly so that the children don’t suffer by being taken away from either parent.

Find Words

Family lawyers are a blessing that can make the divorce process significantly easier. With their professional expertise and technical guidance, you can easily navigate this difficult journey. While there are no winners when a family breaks apart, with a family lawyer guiding you in handling things, you can at least come out with your head held high.