No client is expected to know or anticipate all of his or her legal rights or all of the issues that must be addressed and resolved in a divorce or custody action. We inform and advise our clients about their legal rights and the multitude of issues that will arise and require discussion and resolution during the course of the lawsuit. Included below are examples of some of the questions to be addressed. It is crucial that no issue relating to the marriage, assets or liabilities of our clients be overlooked.

What events have taken place that will form the basis for seeking a Judgment of Divorce? Has the client's spouse committed adultery? Has the client's spouse engaged in cruel and inhuman treatment or abandoned the client for a period of one or more years? When, where and how did all of these events take place? Is there sufficient proof to obtain a divorce?

What assets constitute marital property? How will they be distributed? Will the marital home be sold, transferred to one spouse or owned jointly? Who will have possession of the vehicles, household furnishings, antiques, family photographs and mementos, stocks, bonds, bank accounts and items of sentimental value? If there are pension or retirement benefits, how will they be distributed now or in the future? Does either spouse need or desire to retain an asset exclusive of the other spouse? Is there a marital business that must be evaluated and, perhaps, liquidated or divided? Is one spouse entitled to receive maintenance payments from the other to assist in his or her support? Will health and life insurance coverage be in effect for any members of the family?

What are the tax consequences attendant to distribution of any assets? Who will bear the responsibility for income tax or capital gains tax liabilities? Who will pay the marital debts? Is there a danger that either spouse may file a petition in bankruptcy?

When there are children of the marriage, no issue is of greater importance than safeguarding the children's rights. What living situation will be in their best interests? Will sole or joint custody be appropriate? What visitation rights will serve the needs of the children? If joint custody is an option, what will be its parameters? How will child support obligations be allocated? Will there be additional financial obligations imposed upon one or both parents for child care expenses, life insurance, health insurance, uncovered medical expenses or educational costs?

A divorce, unlike other lawsuits, does not produce a definitive winner or loser. There is much to be gained, but much that may be lost if the legal proceedings are not properly handled. No husband or wife is entitled to, or shall, receive every asset, every dollar of income or every minute with the children. Our office endeavors to achieve for our clients the greatest benefits possible. We make no guarantees or predictions to any client as to the results to be obtained because we have no way of knowing, with certainty, what the Courts, our client, his or her spouse, their children or the spouse's attorney may do in the future.

We promise to give our clients our best efforts and to keep them fully informed of all aspects of and developments in their legal proceedings. It is crucial that our clients always be honest with us and with the Court and that all Court Orders be obeyed.

A concerted effort among the attorneys in our office and our client is essential. Without complete cooperation from our client, the client's rights cannot be fully protected. We welcome questions from our clients and respect their rights to make the decisions that they believe are in their best interests and appropriate for their families.

We encourage our clients to seek the support of friends and family during the difficult times that will arise during the legal proceedings. Our clients can also rely on us to assist them in overcoming the inevitable obstacles and frustrations with which they will be faced.

Although we are gratified by the occasional reconciliations of spouses that we witness, we know that often a divorce, while not a happy event, is a necessity. Husbands and wives suffering from physical or verbal abuse, infidelity, financial abandonment or a degrading or dangerous home life, generally have no choice but to seek legal help to end their family troubles. Despite the stressful nature of such legal proceedings, they can bring about a welcome beginning to a new life.