I Have Been Served With A Summons For Divorce, What Should I Do?

There are many situations in which a spouse will receive divorce papers from their other spouse, whether they are expecting it or not. The day you are served with a summons for divorce can be an overwhelming and emotional one, as a major chapter in your life is now about to close. On the other hand, receiving divorce papers might not be a surprise. Either way, you will need to contact an experienced divorce and family law attorney as soon as possible to determine what the next steps that you need to take are.

When served with a summons for divorce, you will have 20 days to find an attorney and begin the legal process. The attorney should outline your rights, what the next steps will be and what you can expect life to be like during this time. You and your spouse will have to determine which type of divorce you would like to go through; divorce through mediation, collaborative divorce, etc. There will be a lot of factors that you need to consider including child custody, visitation rights, equitable distribution of assets, the future of pensions or benefits, and the potential for spousal maintenance.

You will be required to answer the summons and if you do not respond, you will not be allowed to have a say in the divorce and may not get the assets or custody that you want. The best thing that you can do is speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Don’t let your rights go to waste, don’t let all of your assets get taken from you. Contact The Pollack Law Firm today.

Robert Pollack is an experienced divorce and family law attorney in Long Island, New York. Contact The Pollack Law Firm, P.C., to set up a free initial consultation.