Navigating Divorce: Do You Need a Divorce Lawyer on Long Island?

When making the heartbreaking decision to hire a divorce lawyer, Long Island couples -- like spouses everywhere facing a breakup -- generally search for a highly-skilled, experienced legal advocate who will expedite the process so their lives can return to some kind of normalcy again.

Some couples, especially those who want to navigate the divorce process as quickly as possible, make emotional decisions, without thinking about the future. Deciding to self-manage a divorce without legal counsel is often one of those emotional decisions. Whether it is to save money or because spouses think they can work out an amicable settlement agreement on their own, couples should think twice about self-managing the process.
Making emotional decisions in the rush to recapture balance and stability today more often than not has negative consequences down the road. Unless the marriage was short and produced no shared property, couples usually benefit from engaging an impartial advocate to work out the separation details.

In an emotionally charged environment, it's often the small details that cause the most aggravation and discord. Couples may agree on real estate divisions, whether to sell the new Audi and even a rotating schedule for the Upstate time-share, but struggle to decide who will take primary custody of the beloved family pet. Of course, the process is more complicated for couples with children, a diverse portfolio of real property and shared business interest.
It's possible to file an uncontested divorce, or no-fault divorce, on Long Island, without exposing either party to a host of problems in the future.

Positive Benefits of Working with a Long Island Divorce Attorney

Gaining a Personal Advocate

Although one divorce lawyer in Long Island can work with both parties to draft a settlement agreement, legal counselors recommend each spouse engage a personal attorney. The primary role of a legal advocate is to consider the best interests of his or her client.

If negotiations break down during the divorce settlement process, and it becomes necessary to seek court intervention, each spouse must have their own attorney.

Exploring Long-Range Solutions

•    The primary issues couples face during the negotiating phase include debt allocation and equitable property division. Child custody, Visitation and Support are also major areas of contention. Planning for the future might also include discussions about the following sub-topics.

•    Education: Who decides, and more importantly, who bears financial responsibility for private school, essential tutoring or college prep courses? What about uniforms, transportation and expenses associated with extracurricular activity?

•    Health and Wellness: Every parent wants the best for their children, but defining the best is sometimes tricky. Today's two-year-old toddler will one day be a teenager. Many battles erupt over "medically necessary" expenditures for advanced orthodontia and elective cosmetic surgery as children pass through early childhood into adolescence.

•    Emergency Planning: What happens if one party becomes seriously ill, permanently disabled, or dies suddenly? Establishing a chain of custody, especially for young children, it vital to safety, security and emotional stability. Statues change and new laws are enacted that directly impact divorce management strategies.

A Divorce Lawyer on Long Island, Robert E. Hornberger, Esq., P.C., a family law specialist, explains how important it is to stay informed about changes to New York divorce statues. Hornberger says new laws governing spousal support and legal fees will have a profound effect on how matrimonial matters are handled. One of the most advantageous aspects of hiring a skilled local divorce lawyer in Long Island is gaining access to the knowledge and experience that comes from years of working before family law judges as a family law specialist in Nassau County and Suffolk County courtrooms. The path to a final decree of divorce may be complex and arduous or comparatively uncomplicated and amicable. Navigating that journey with an eye on the future is easier with a legal advocate to lead the way.

For more information about Divorce Lawyer Long Island and Divorce Mediation Suffolk County Please visit: Divorce-longisland.com