Facing a divorce or any other family law matter can be a difficult time. These issues can have an impact on the entire family, not just the individuals going through it. It can result in parties feeling lost, betrayed, and overwhelmed. Many do not know what direction to turn.

For some, a divorce can feel like it has come out of left field. For others, a divorce can feel as if it was a long time coming. Over time, parties can sometimes just grow apart. They might find that what they both want in life is just not compatible any longer. Even after trying marriage counseling, or engaging in other efforts, the marriage just is not working.

When going through a divorce, many are curious how their case will ultimately end. In any divorce, there are usually three ways in which a case may end. The case might end quickly through a settlement that leads to uncontested divorce proceedings. In other cases, the parties might not settle quickly, but ultimately along the way reach a settlement after many weeks or months through mediation, negotiation and/or multiple preliminary court dates. And, in the most difficult cases, the parties are not able to settle on all the essential terms. In these cases, the judge ultimately must decide the outcome after a trial is conducted.

The are many issues that must be sorted out in any divorce that can make settlement difficult. From the division of all marital property and debt, child custody, child support, spousal maintenance and payment of attorney’s fees, there are many issues that come into play in divorce. And to settle a divorce, parties must agree on all these items. In some cases, the parties might agree on a lot of these items but could be hung up even on one or two of these areas. Because there are so many pitfalls and legal requirements in a divorce, it is critical that you have legal counsel to represent you in the process.

When you are going through a divorce, it is crucial that you hire a lawyer with whom you are comfortable. You also want to be sure that you tell your attorney everything that is important in an honest manner. From the good facts to the bad facts, an attorney can only help a client to the extent that they are aware of all the circumstances. Even details that may seem insignificant may play a big role in the end. Thus, to ensure that you are effectively represented, be sure to be candid with your attorney.

When thinking about how to conclude your case, and whether to settle or go to trial, you do want to be well informed of the short and long-term implications. This can be hard for some when a case does not end quickly. This can result in some parties agreeing to terms that ultimately are not in their or their children’s best interests just to get the case done. In the end, parties should really focus on trying to receive the best possible outcome whether that be through settlement or trial. If the case can end in a positive result quickly through settlement that can certainly be a good thing. But in other cases, if that is not possible, many should consider moving forward toward a trial.

Ultimately, a divorce is an arduous legal matter for any party going through it. But if you had legal representation in your corner to provide you competent, communicative, and diligent representation, the hope is that you will be satisfied with the overall outcome and be in a position where you can rebuild your life.

Note: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Stange Law Firm, PC Kirk C. Stange are responsible for the content. Headquarters office is 120 S. Central Ave., Suite 450, Clayton, MO 63105.