Know the Critical 5 Step Process to Divorce in Pennsylvania

(Make Sure Your Lawyer Does it Or You’ll Pay the Price!)

The following is the critical 5 Step process to divorce in Pennsylvania:

1. Confirm the Facts;
2. Research the Law;
3. Discuss the Results;
4. Create the Action Plan; and
5. Execute the Action Plan.

Below I describe each step and the order in which it must be followed to increase the likelihood of a good result in your case.

1. Confirm the Facts. Confirm the facts in detail.  Accuracy of the facts is the foundation upon which legal advice will be given in a divorce case. If the facts are wrong or inaccurate, then the legal advice is too. Therefore, it’s important that you work with your lawyer to confirm the facts and circumstances of your case before you proceed to the next step of researching the law. It’s not enough that you have a conversation with a lawyer, and the lawyer doesn’t write down the facts and circumstances of your case in detail. The issues related to divorce are far too complicated to keep all that information in your head not having written it down.  Therefore, until the lawyer writes down the facts and circumstances of your case in detail, you should not proceed to the next step.  The first step of confirming the facts takes place during a one hour consultation with your lawyer.  Once the information is written down, the client and the lawyer should go over it several times to confirm that all the information is accurate.  Once that process is done, then it’s time to proceed to the next step of researching the law.

2. Research the law. If a lawyer tells you that he or she has been practicing divorce and family law for many years, and that he or she knows the law and does not need to do research, then run out of the office and hire another lawyer.  Every year across the state of Pennsylvania courts are deciding new cases that can change the law.  Also, the Pennsylvania legislature can create new laws, change existing laws, and or get rid of old laws all of which can affect your case.   That’s why it’s necessary that once the facts are confirmed, that your lawyer do the research, and apply the current law to your facts and circumstances so the lawyer can properly advise you on the likely resolution of your case.   Once your lawyer does that, it’s time to sit down with you to discuss your legal rights and the likely outcome of your case.  

3. Discuss Results. As the client, it’s important that you understand the likely outcome of your case based on your facts and circumstances and the law. Your lawyer should tell you that. Based on the confirmation of the facts and the research of the law, the lawyer can advise you on the likely resolution of your legal issues including, but not limited to, the following:

Alimony;

Alimony pendente lite;

Spousal support;

Child support;

Child custody; and

Dividing marital assets.

Once you understand your legal rights based on the facts and circumstances of your case, then the attorney can create an action plan in order to resolve the case.

4. Create the Action Plan. Once you know what you’re entitled to according to the law, the next step is to create a plan of action to get the result.  There are informal and formal legal ways to get the information you need to get the planned result. A detailed plan has to be written out and presented to you so that you understand what needs to be done and the timeline in which each task is expected to be done.  Once the action plan has been written out and provided to you, then you’re ready to execute the plan.

5. Execute the Action Plan. Step five of the critical five step process is self-explanatory. Now that you have a written action plan, with each task identified, and the expected time for each task to be done, it’s time to do each task and you’ll use the action plan as a guide to mark the progress of your case as it proceeds to the desired result.

Want Peace of Mind and a Complete Evaluation of Your Case? 

Call (610) 347-5683 NOW or Click HERE to Schedule a Consultation with Chester County Pennsylvania Divorce & Family Law Attorney, Michaelangelo L. Dippolito.  Click HERE to see the attorney’s background.

Not Ready to Speak to an Attorney Yet?  No Problem.

Get this FREE Book and Consumer Protection Guide, Divorce & Family Law in Pennsylvania, A Consumer Protection Guide on What You Need to Know to Protect Your Legal Rights.  Here’s Some of What’s in the FREE Book and Consumer Protection Guide:

• Critical 5 Step Process to Divorce in Pennsylvania
• “Cooperating” with The Other Side Can Cost you Time and Money
• What You Need to Know About the Cost of Your Divorce
• Arming Yourself with Knowledge is the First Step to a New Beginning

Still Not Ready and Want to Learn More Before You Move Forward?  No Problem.

Click HERE for more information on Divorce and Family Law in Pennsylvania, and remember, we’re just a phone call away at (610) 347-5683.