Contested Divorce in Mission Viejo, California

Difficulties Surrounding Contested Divorce Scenarios

Every divorce case has issues that must be resolved before the dissolution can be finalized. While many divorce cases may be resolved peacefully by filing an uncontested divorce, often through mediation, there are some situations where there is a great deal of hostility. This may be due to strongly opposing ideals, values, goals or even instances of domestic violence. These are considered contested divorce cases because the various terms of divorce cannot be decided upon peacefully by the individuals involved and it must go to trial. Some of the issues that must be resolved in a contested divorce include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Visitation
• Spousal Support
• Property Division

When a couple cannot come to an agreement regarding the terms of their divorce, the judge will decide for them, based on the arguments made by the individuals and their representing counsel. For this reason it is imperative that you have aggressive and skilled representation on your side in order to maximize your chances of a favorable outcome. Without adequate representation, you could find that you are given arrangements that are highly undesirable.

Filing a Declaration of Disclosure

In an uncontested divorce or mediation, you will create a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) which can allow you to waive the Final Declaration of Disclosure form. If you are pursuing a contested divorce, however, this Declaration of Disclosure must be completed and turned in by both spouses no later than 45 days before your first trial date. The only other way you can waive the Final Declaration of Disclosure is if your spouse or partner does not respond to your initial petition for divorce, which means that it is a default divorce.

The Final Declaration of Disclosure is just like the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure, which has to be filed for any divorce case, it just updates the Preliminary with any new additions or changes. This declaration can be extremely time-consuming and complicated to fill out without the help of a knowledgeable Mission Viejo divorce lawyer. It requires you to lay out all of your assets, debts, expenses and income, which can be quite laborious to undertake. You must compile all credit card statements, deeds, bank statements and other financial records. Every aspect of each of these forms must be filled out completely and accurately, otherwise your statements may be called into question, causing delays in your divorce process.

Why work with The Hunter Law Group?

If you are looking for a family attorney for an uncontested divorce in Mission Viejo, you have come to the right place. The firm, led by Attorney Dan Hunter, has more than 30 years of combined experience and our legal team can work to provide you with the aggressive and diligent representation that you need. We have successfully advocated on behalf of numerous individuals in the past. With a family-oriented mentality, we understand that a child's best interests are often one of the primary concerns, especially in contested divorce cases. We have obtained beneficial arrangements for children on numerous occasions and we will fight to see that you achieve your goals and desires. Do not hesitate to contact our firm for the representation that you deserve by calling us at (888) 844-9281.