Manukau Divorce Lawyer – Help Is At Hand
Whatever the causes, separation and divorce is a highly emotive time for everyone involved. Well-meaning friends and family have advice, some of which might be good, but often it is not. To secure your future and to make sure that you are treated fairly, it is essential that you hire a Manukau divorce lawyer to guide you through the separation process.
Here is a short guide consisting of three key points to help you survive your divorce as well as possible.
1 Choosing the Right Manukau Divorce Lawyer
You might think that the law is the law so any divorce lawyer will be able to do the job for you. That is true to a certain extent, however, there are a few factors to take into account.
Some lawyers are very matter of fact in their communication. They will undoubtedly know their field of work but in these times, you often need a more gentle, empathetic person to help you through the various emotional stages of a divorce.
With that in mind, talk to a few potential solicitors before you pick a Manukau divorce lawyer. You will be looking for two key things at these meetings.
The first is their fee structure. Money is likely to be a bit tight for the foreseeable future so it pays to watch your expenses.
The second, arguably more important, is how well do you “click” as people. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of a separation lawyer who feels your pain and can demonstrate that they care and have understanding of your situation.
Most lawyers will probably be giving you some tough love during the process as they explain things that you possibly don’t want to hear. This is why you need a separation lawyer you will do it in a kind way.
2 Good at Communicating
It may seem obvious at the start that you want or have to get a divorce, or more formally, a marriage dissolution. However, your lawyer will have to explain your rights and obligations to you in a way that you understand.
There are common misconceptions about divorce in New Zealand so a lawyer who can be clear and effective in their communications is vital.
They also need to be able to communicate and convince the lawyer of the other side. For example, it is widely acknowledged that relationship property or matrimonial assets, should be split equally between the two parties. It is almost inevitable that one party will try to force a split giving them a greater share of the assets. Your lawyer must be able to demonstrate your rights to the other lawyer.
3 Knowing the Divorce Law of New Zealand
Following on the last point, some parties will try to hide relationship property. For example, if they are a tradesperson, they may have two bank accounts for their work income. They may hide so income from their spouse in one hidden bank account. Your lawyer needs to be aware of tricks like this so that you are not disadvantaged.
Again, if your former spouse is self-employed, there must be a fair allocation of costs and debts. Your lawyer should be able to hunt out this type of financial transaction.
It is also important to be able to properly assess the change in value of assets over the length of the relationship. A common example is if one partner owned a house prior to the start of the relationship. At the end, they assume that the house is theirs but in reality, generally, the pother partner is entitled to a half-share of the increase in value over the length of their time together.
Choosing A Manukau Divorce Lawyer
As we see, there is more to picking a Manukau divorce lawyer than meeting the first one you find. McVeagh Fleming has a good team of divorce lawyers serving the south Auckland area, based in Manukau city. You can find out more by clicking the link.