When a spouse announces he or she wants a divorce and then moves out, this can leave the other partner reeling. Sometimes that person is blindsided, but in many cases, only the decision and the move is the shocking part. Problems in the marriage were very evident. A Divorce Lawyer in Puyallup WA represents this man or woman to make sure assets are divided fairly and any child custody issues are resolved without having to go to court.
Emotional Turmoil
These situations tend to be more volatile when it turns out that the spouse who moved out had become romantically involved with someone else. Perhaps the spouses could have continued living together in a somewhat unhappy marriage until this new development occurred. The one left behind is angry, embarrassed, jealous and maybe grief-stricken.
Shared Custody of Children
If the parent who moved out wants to share physical custody, the other spouse may have the inclination to fight this. That person left, after all. Why should that parent have any rights to joint custody? Family courts in the 21st Century strongly encourage both parents to be a major part of the children’s lives. The old-fashioned weekend visitation occurring twice a month is no longer as common as it once was.
A Divorce Lawyer in Puyallup WA can help set up a possible arrangement that is agreeable to the client and present it to the other parent’s attorney. Shared physical custody does not have to be 50-50; it might be four days with one parent and three with the other. Always, the best interests of the children should be paramount and override their parents’ negative feelings toward each other.
A Divorce Hearing
There may be an issue that the couple cannot decide on, even with mediation sessions. A divorce hearing is then held with a judge who makes the decision. One spouse is represented by a family law attorney such as Kevin G. Byrd, while the other retains his or her own lawyer. Although going to court over this matter can be scary and stressful, it is important to avoid an actual trial where a number of matters will be out of the couple’s control.
