divorce papers with eyeglass case

Being served divorce papers can be a stressful and emotionally taxing experience. How you respond can shape the entire divorce agreement, so it is imperative that you act quickly and take steps to protect yourself. Our Sussex County, Sparta divorce attorneys can help you do that.

Can I Ignore the Divorce Papers?

You can, but we do not recommend it. Ignoring the papers does not magically end the divorce process. It is still going to go on, with or without you. If you do not respond, the court can issue a “default judgment” against you.

This means that the judge essentially just takes your spouse’s word on everything and awards them what they want. Even if there are no children involved or many marital assets to speak of, you can still end up with an unfavorable alimony agreement or other terms of the divorce that you may find disagreeable.

What Should I Do After Being Served Divorce Papers?

Instead of ignoring the divorce papers, you should respond. You can file answer, counterclaim, and appearance documents. These tell the court that you are ready to enter into divorce proceedings yourself, but you have a different side of the story to tell.

Now you have the chance to argue for more favorable terms. You can fight for:

  • Equitable distribution of marital property
  • A better child custody agreement
  • More parenting time
  • More favorable child support and/or alimony terms

If you let a default judgment go through, you do not get a chance to change any of these things.

How Can a Family Law Attorney Help Me?

An attorney who is well-versed in family law can be incredibly helpful in this stressful time. A lawyer from our firm can:

Help with paperwork: As you can probably tell, this is a process that is going to require some paperwork. We can help you file papers, stay organized, and submit necessary documents to the court and your spouse’s attorney.

Answer your questions: The divorce process can be quite complex and stressful to boot. When you have questions, your lawyer can answer them and put your mind at ease.

Keep track of deadlines: It’s not just the paperwork that you need to worry about. There are also different deadlines to keep an eye on, but do not worry. Your attorney will have that covered as well.

Negotiate better terms: Whether you are fighting to keep the house or looking for a better child custody arrangement, your lawyer can help you with that. It is our job to help you fight for the best possible outcome, and that applies to every facet of your divorce case.

Call Our Law Firm Today

If you are going through a divorce, you need to have a lawyer that you can depend on. Contact the Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC and schedule an appointment today. We can tell you more about your options and how we can be of assistance during this consultation.