Ask an Attorney## Q&A with Nolan Byers P.C.## *Decisions that impact your future are best made with a clear head and plenty of information, but legal disputes are stressful and generate lots of emotion. We want our clients to feel ready and informed, so we have to spend time working through the emotional part. That’s where our Counselor at Law “hat comes in.” — Frances Nolan and Leigh Byers*
>>> *How will I know if I’m ready to proceed with divorce?***A skillful lawyer can help you sort through whether or not divorce is in your best interest.** Before you run headlong into divorce, it might be time for a reality check. Take a break from social media. Ask yourself some tough questions about why you’re feeling discontented. Then schedule some face-to-face time with a therapist, marriage counselor, spiritual advisor, or family law attorney to explore your concerns and options. >>> *Does divorce have to be contentious and competitive?***Divorcing couples actually have a number of choices about how to approach their divorce.** Just because your best friend went through months of litigation, doesn’t mean that you will. If you and your spouse prefer a less contentious approach you may want to investigate a different type of representation. Based on your personal criteria, you have a number of choices about how to proceed. Will this be a “kitchen table negotiation”? Or would your interests be better served by a Collaborative Process, or Mediation? When required, litigation may be the best approach. >>> *I have heard that Alabama is a “no fault” state, what does this mean?***Several decades ago, a person seeking a divorce had to have specific grounds or reasons, in order to qualify, when fault could be proven** (i.e. adultery, abandonment, imprisonment etc.) Alabama has since adopted the grounds of “incompatibility” and “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage”. Alabama courts still consider “fault” and misconduct as a factor in determining alimony and property division, as described in answer related to those issues above. >>> *How much does it cost to get divorced?***If money (or the lack-thereof) has been holding you back from ending your marriage, mapping out a monthly budget and long-range financial goals will help you face those fears.** Married or single, there will be bills to pay, mortgages due, and children who need child care, new clothes, and orthodontia. We recommend that people start thinking about the financials as early in the process as possible. That means meeting with a financial adviser, talking to lawyers and writing down what this is going to cost.# *Have more questions about the divorce process? Learn more about the different approaches to divorce at nolanbyers.com.*# *Nolan Byers, PC was founded by Frances Ross Nolan and Leigh Reynolds Byers to provide exceptional legal assistance to clients facing family law disputes.*
## *No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.
