If you are currently going through a divorce and are fighting with your spouse over custody, it is important for you to be upfront with a divorce lawyer, such as William K Holman, about certain things. While your lawyer does not need to know everything, there are things you should tell him or her before the battle begins. Here are two things you should open up and discuss with your lawyer. These issues could pose problems for your custody battle, and if your lawyer does not know about them, he or she will not be prepared to negotiate.
Any type of substance abuse problem
Being upfront about some really hard, and possibly embarrassing, issues is always the right way to handle a custody case. You probably are not proud that you once had a substance abuse problem, but you can be certain that this issue will get brought up during a custody battle. Because of this, you should inform your lawyer about this. You may also want to tell your lawyer the following details:
- How long you have been clean
- What steps you take to avoid relapsing
- Why you decided to get clean
If you are still battling your addiction, it might hurt your case; however, if you can prove you are clean and will stay clean, it most likely will not affect your case.
Issues with a live-in partner
A second thing you may want to be honest about is details about your live-in partner. If you and your spouse split up and you now have someone living with you, this issue will probably be brought up in the custody hearings. If your new partner is a good person, has a job, and does not have any major issues, there is no reason to avoid talking about him or her.
If your new partner has some issues, though, this could harm your case. For example, if he or she has a criminal record, your spouse may fight you on custody with the defense that this person is not fit to be around the kids. If this is the case, you may need to offer evidence that proves your spouse wrong. For example, if the criminal history occurred 10 years ago and he or she has not had any problems since, this factor might not affect the battle.
Being honest with your lawyer is a good strategy, because your honesty will help the lawyer prepare for your case. If you would like to learn more about this, contact a divorce lawyer and schedule an appointment today.
