Guiding You Through All Stages Of The Divorce Process
You may argue with your spouse daily. You may recognize that fights are influencing your children. But even if you and your spouse feel that you can no longer remain married, you know that it is a big step to engage in separation or divorce proceedings.
In Kentucky, estranged spouses must file specific paperwork and agree to terms for custody and support, among other requirements. If you are not familiar with the legal procedures involved in this process, you may make a mistake that costs you time and money and limits your future access to your kids.
At Wilson, Stavros, Rowsey & Thomas, our family law attorneys have decades of experience helping our clients navigate the divorce process. Located in Ashland, our firm provides representation to residents in Boyd County and the surrounding areas in court and out-of-court proceedings. Our qualified lawyers use their substantial understanding of Kentucky’s family law statutes to obtain positive outcomes for even the most complex domestic conflicts.
Helping You Obtain Favorable Terms In Your Settlement
Whether your divorce is relatively straightforward or complicated in nature, our seasoned legal team can tailor a course of action that reflects your unique circumstances. In addition to our individualized legal services, our lawyers can advise you on a range of family law matters, including the following:
- Legal separation proceedings
- Uncontested and contested divorce
- High-asset divorce
- Property and asset division
- Spousal support and child support
- Child custody and visitation negotiations and dispute resolution
Our attorneys are dedicated to providing high-caliber counsel at a reasonable rate. They take pride in their responsiveness to our clients’ needs. As longtime residents of the area, it is their goal to use the law to positively affect our community. You can benefit from this earnest commitment.
How Do Kentucky Courts Determine How Property Is Divided?
Kentucky uses equitable distribution laws. This means that courts divide marital property fairly, but not always equally. Courts look at several factors when deciding how to divide property. These include how much each spouse contributed to buying marital property, how long the marriage lasted and each spouse’s financial situation.
The court also considers other factors, such as each spouse’s age, health and ability to earn money. Courts may award the family home to the parent who has custody of the children. Kentucky courts must first decide if property is marital or separate before dividing assets.
What Should Spouses Avoid During The Property Division Process?
Certain actions during divorce can hurt your property division outcome and create legal problems. Avoiding these common mistakes helps protect your financial interests and keeps you in compliance with Kentucky divorce laws.
Spouses should not:
- Hide assets or move property to other people without court approval
- Destroy or hide financial documents from the other spouse
- Make large purchases or build up unnecessary debt during proceedings
- Empty joint accounts or retirement funds without proper permission
- Sell marital property without getting the other spouse’s consent or court permission
- Fail to tell attorneys and the court about all assets and debts
These actions can lead to court penalties, unfavorable property awards and additional legal costs that make the divorce process longer.
How Can An Attorney Help Spouses Prepare For The Property Division Process?
Experienced divorce attorneys provide essential guidance throughout property division proceedings. The right legal team can help by:
- Identifying and properly classifying marital versus separate property under Kentucky law
- Working with appraisers and financial professionals to get accurate asset values
- Negotiating favorable settlement terms that protect clients’ financial interests
- Making sure that clients follow court orders and legal deadlines throughout the process
- Representing clients during court hearings when property disputes cannot be resolved through negotiation
Legal representation becomes especially important in high-asset divorces involving complex property, such as businesses, professional practices or substantial investment portfolios.
Are You Unfamiliar With The Divorce Process? Our Experienced Attorneys Can Assist You.
To arrange your confidential, free case evaluation, call 606-618-0929 or complete our online intake form.