Divorce can be a complex process affecting nearly all aspects of your life- physical, emotional, financial, and legal. If you have been married only for a short while with no children, property, or assets, maybe a divorce lawyer alone would suffice. However, if you have been married for a long time and have children and property, you may need the help of more than one professional in your divorce proceedings.

Family law can be complex, interweaving your life with many other legal aspects. It is critical that you work with the right professionals to ease the divorce process for you.

If you are in a family law or divorce dispute, you may need the support of the following professionals:

Divorce Attorney

Choosing the right divorce lawyer could perhaps be the most important step in a divorce dispute. Like in all professions, there are good ones, and then there are bad ones. You will need to do some research to find a lawyer who is the right fit for you.

For starters, you must find a good lawyer specializing in family law. The lawyer you choose should have several years of experience practicing family law. If they have mentored other family lawyers or published books and other legal articles, that is an added bonus.

You should also try and look for a lawyer who is also a skilled negotiator. Being able to resolve your dispute without a court battle can save a lot of time and money. You will also be able to avoid a lot of stress that comes with court proceedings.

When selecting the right lawyer, you need to choose someone who is firm yet reasonable. You want someone who does not crumble at the first hurdle. Also, you want someone who can advise you when to settle instead of dragging the case on and on.

Avoid any conflict of interest when choosing a divorce lawyer. You cannot hire your spouse’s lawyer or any member of your spouse’s family to represent you.

Divorce Mediator

Mediation involves a third-party divorce mediator who helps you and your spouse work out the terms of your divorce and live successful lives apart. A mediator encourages open but structured discussions around parenting arrangements, division of assets, and support payments. Divorce mediation can take some of the stress out of the divorce process and cause less emotional damage. Many courts require the couple to go to mediation before the court will hear the case. However, it may not be the ideal solution in all divorce cases.

Mediators are neutral and help you and your spouse agree on issues such as parenting arrangements and property division. They do not offer legal advice or make the decisions for you. Instead, they serve as facilitators to help spouses figure out what is best for their situation.

Many family law practitioners are also trained mediators. If you are looking for a divorce mediator, you may check with your lawyer specializing in family law.

Accountant and Forensic Accountant

A Certified Public Accountant often performs accounting services and prepares tax returns for individuals, corporations, and other business entities. They also provide business, accounting and tax advice to their clients. 

Forensic accountants combine their accounting knowledge with investigative skills to conduct an examination into the finances of an individual or business. The forensic accountant works closely with the divorce attorney and is often called upon to participate in various aspects of the process.  In divorces, a forensic accountant’s objective is to determine each party’s income for spousal support (alimony) and child support; and to value the marital assets and liabilities for equitable distribution purposes. Specifically, the forensic accountant will value assets such as the family business, stock options, pension plans, and company shares. This is especially important in high-net-worth cases. 

Sometimes, forensic accountants are asked to determine whether there are missing assets and where they might have gone and also help you recover it.

If you suspect that your spouse is hiding assets, hiring a forensic accountant who also practices commercial litigation Miami may prove very useful. 

Appraiser

When it comes to asset division in a divorce case, couples may not know the exact value of their tangible property. Personal property may include a large number of things, including cars, jewelry, artwork, furniture, and other collectibles.

With the help of a qualified appraiser, you can establish the value of your personal property so that it may be properly divided during the divorce proceedings.

Real Estate professionals

Depending on their financial condition and the division of households, divorcing couples often need to sell their marital home. Having to deal with the housing market in the midst of an emotionally stressful divorce proceeding only adds to the stress. Real estate professionals who are familiar with family law and divorce issues can be very helpful in the processing of selling or purchasing a home. They can help ease the tension between spouses by speaking with both of them, eliminating the communication gap and differences in opinion.

Therapists, Evaluators, and Parenting professionals

Disputes around issues such as co-parenting, custody arrangements, and finances could be so emotionally charged to the extent that they cloud your judgment. In such cases, the court may sometimes choose to appoint or ask the parties to engage the services of various professionals to help them resolve these complex issues.

Therapists and other mental health professionals can help you manage anxiety, stress, depression, and other psychological issues that may result from or get aggravated by your current situation.

The court may also appoint evaluators or experts to conduct evaluations into a number of issues such as substance abuse, custody, parenting issues, risk factors, and more. Sometimes, you may need to hire such professionals yourself. 

A divorce proceeding can be an extremely stressful time, especially for children who often don’t know what to make of the situation. In such cases parenting professionals such as parenting supervisors, guardians ad litem, parent coordinators, custody and parenting time mediators, and parenting skills program providers may also be needed to ensure that the family environment remains as stable as possible for children.

Family litigation support involves many professionals from different walks of life who can ease the divorce process for you. Each professional has a special role to play in the divorce process to minimize the stress and emotional turmoil a divorce can have on the entire family.