Unfortunately, many marriages in Texas end in divorce. As we noted last week, numerous life events like illness, job changes and infidelity can lead to the dissolution of a marriage.
If you believe that your marriage is on the verge of ending, you need to make sure that you are prepared for any legal situations that may arise. One of the first things that may occur during a separation is a request for you to show up in court. This occurs when you are served with a divorce petition.
While it may be alarming to receive a court summons, you should not overreact. Unfortunately, in some cases, this process can occur at inopportune places, such as the office or a public setting. Nevertheless, you should know that this is part of the standard legal process. You should feel no shame about receiving this document.
If you are served legal paperwork about a divorce, it may be in your best interest to speak to an attorney. You will need someone to work on your behalf when it comes to issues like child custody and/or asset distribution. This is especially true if you expect your spouse to be combative.
Woman Allowed to Serve Divorce Papers through Facebook
While a divorce petition is often served through local forms of authority, recently we read an interesting story in New York about a court allowing a woman to serve papers to her estranged husband through a Facebook message.
The court allowed the woman to do this because her husband drifted out of her life and has not responded to other requests. Her only viable option was reportedly to serve him through a private Facebook message. In the judge’s opinion, he wrote that the “advent and ascendency of social media,” means sites like Facebook are the “next frontier” as “forums through which a summons can be delivered,” according to CNN.
Talking to an Attorney about the Legalities of Divorce
While the case above is unusual, it does show that the divorce process can be complex. If you are thinking about divorcing your spouse, it may be wise to speak to an attorney. The process can be incredibly overwhelming if you do not have someone working on your behalf.
Our attorneys understand the difficulties associated with family law matters. We understand how critical this time is during a person’s life and we do our best to help our clients overcome the anxiety and pressures associated with the process.
