Tips for Testifying at Your Divorce Trial
Posted on September 15th, 2018 by Oddo & Babat, P.C.
Divorce Lawyer
The majority of divorce cases are settled out of court. However, there鈥檚 still a chance your case may have to go to trial. The idea of testifying in court may seem scary at first, but it isn鈥檛 so bad if you鈥檙e properly prepared. The divorce lawyers at [law firm name] provide some tips for testifying at your divorce trial:
Listen to the Question Carefully
It is important to listen carefully to every questions you鈥檙e asked during trial. Make sure you understand the meaning of the question before you give your answer. If you don鈥檛 understand the question, don鈥檛 be afraid to ask for clarification.
Don鈥檛 Volunteer Information
When you are being asked questions at the trial, you should keep your answers as short as possible. If you ramble on and on, you may end up saying something that could hurt your case. For example, if you are asked if you鈥檝e ever had an affair during your marriage and you have, it鈥檚 only necessary to say 鈥測es.鈥� If you tell the court how long the affair lasted or why you were unfaithful, it could do more harm than good.
Be Truthful
Even if it鈥檚 embarrassing or may hurt your case, you should always be truthful when answering questions at your divorce trial. If you get caught lying, it could damage you case even more.
Remain Calm
No matter what sorts of questions you are asked at your divorce trial, it is important to stay calm. If you raise your voice or show any hostility, the judge may frown on that. If your spouse鈥檚 lawyer asks an inappropriate or irrelevant question, allow your lawyer to object. If you answer with sarcastic remarks, it could end up hurting you in the end.
Don鈥檛 Make Up Answers
During your divorce trial, you may be asked questions that you do not remember the answers to. Don鈥檛 attempt to make up answers. Just tell the court that you simply don鈥檛 remember.
If you follow these tips, you can get through your divorce trial a lot smoother. Your divorce lawyer may likely help you prepare for the trial by asking you the same questions you will be asked on the stand. He or she may coach you on what to say and what to avoid saying. The more you prepare for your trial, the better off you will be.
We know how intimidating it can be to testify during a divorce trial. You have all these people watching you and are afraid of saying the wrong things. That鈥檚 how a trusts can help to make the process as smooth as possible for you. They may take the time to properly prepare you for the trial and answer all of your questions. If you are getting divorced from your spouse, we encourage you to consult with an attorney as soon as possible.
Thank you to our friends and contributors at the for their insight into family law and divorce.
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