At least 10 days prior to the trial in your case, you MUST file a Pre-Trial Disclosure. This document must disclose to the Court all of your assets, debts, salaries, monthly living expenses, what you are asking the Court to award you, AS WELL AS a list of the witnesses you intend to call to trial. If a witness is not listed on the Pre-Trial Disclosure you will not be allowed to call them at trial; however, a listed witness does not have to be called to testify.
The preparation for trial is often a complex process. It involves not only the assembly of financial data, appraisals, conferences with you and your witnesses, but it also often requires legal briefs and research. All of these matters take time, so it is extremely important, and financially beneficial to you, that you help gather the needed information as soon as possible. If you are being billed on an hourly basis you are billed for telephone conferences. We try to keep you informed on the status of your case and will discuss every settlement offer, received by us, with you.
We will not make any agreement without your consent; likewise, you should discuss with us any settlement offers you receive before committing yourself to accept that offer. Often, what sounds like a terrific offer may have future repercussions attached to it.
The trial is normally the second, and final, hearing in a divorce action. The judge will review the pleadings and exhibits presented
in your case, hear the testimony, and then render a decision. Trials vary in length only in a few instances will the trial last longer
than a few hours; normally, a trial is concluded within a couple of hours. Normally, the judge renders his decision at trial. There are times when the judge takes a divorce action “under advisement” to render his decision at a later date. Once judge
rules the attorneys will draft the Decree of Divorce and prepare any other documents necessary to convey property and/or furnish you
with instructions for finalizing your case.
It is our goal, from start to finish, to affect an outcome that you will be happy
with and that is reasonable in accordance with the laws of our State. If you decide you want to appeal the judge’s decision, notify
us immediately. The trial Court’s decision will not be overruled by the Supreme Court unless an error in the judge’s ruling can be
proven. The deadline to notify the Court of a decision to appeal is 10 days from the date the judge originally enters his ruling
the date of the trial.
No attorney can promise you a specific outcome of your case. We will do our best to see that the
conclusion is favorable to you and your interest.
TRIAL
This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal
legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.