May 05, 2015

Divorce is never pretty regardless of what the situation or factors are that lead to it. When it comes to the role of the judge and what they can do they have the ultimate say in what happens in the case. It’s not always in your favor and not always the outcome everyone hoped for.

To make life easier for everyone, you might want to make sure you’re more open to negotiation than what you were planning when you began the process. There’s a lot of give and take in a divorce and a lot of issues may arise and a lot of issues may even be resolved.

There are some things though that you can do to impress the judge and this is true especially when children are involved, or if you are looking to win your case.

• Always come prepared and avoid making mistakes that the judge can ultimately play against you. Make sure every piece of paper or other documents are in one place and that you have them all. Make sure you have a witness list or anything else that may pertain to your particular case.
• Avoid making a scene or causing conflict in the courtroom. This makes you look bad and is ultimately a strike against you. Keeping a level head with the judge gets you further regardless of what the situation is, and no matter what your spouse is doing to try to fire you up. If you start feeling frustrated or overwhelmed try to mask it while you are in front of the judge.
• Follow all protocol set in place by the court system. This means follow the advice of your lawyer and only talk when the judge talks to you. Don’t interrupt the judge as this is one of the biggest things that will turn them off in an instant. If you feel the attorney you’ve hired has made some sort of mistake or has not addressed a particular issue that you wanted addressed, let them know in private so that it can be brought up in the next court room hearing. You can also write a note with all of your concerns as well.
• You should be honest especially if you are at fault for some things that are brought up in the court. Not everyone is perfect, and the judge does understand that. However, you don’t want the judge knowing you are lying as this will count against you. It’s always better to look like a person who has made some poor decisions than to lie about these choices.

Make sure that you learn as much as you can about your state’s divorce laws and make sure you get the guidance and support you need especially if you plan on not using representation. Judges can be ruthless and hard to deal with, and getting an attorney is always the best route to go.