Getting the Best Divorce Advice

Would you let a friend who wasn’t a doctor operate on you?  How about getting a stock tip from a waiter who just served you coffee?  Would you feel comfortable driving if you had your breaks changed by someone who has never owned a car?  The obvious answer is no.  However, when it comes to advice about decisions you are faced with during a divorce, everyone seems to have an opinion on what you should or should not do.

During the unwinding of a commitment to a spouse; divorce involves some of the most important aspects of a person’s life.  Personal finances, child custody, separation of assets are just a few things that are at the forefront of a potential courtroom battle.  Even though the parties may have been planning or thinking about a divorce for quite some time, a divorce does not actually begin until legal paperwork is filed in Court.  However, what leads up to the filing can positively or negatively affect the process for someone going through a divorce.

Emotional support from friends and family is very important and even critical during the divorce process.  Unfortunately, this well-intentioned support in the form of “advice” leading up to divorce oftentimes leads to more heartache, difficulty and many times thousands – or even tens of thousands – of dollars in otherwise unnecessary attorney’s fees.  Alternatively, receiving competent legal advice so that one has reasonable expectations going into the divorce process is important. Understanding the facts and law will help shape how a person perceives the divorce process and the expected results.

Well-meaning friends, and even family members, who are not lawyers oftentimes give “well-intentioned support” in the way of advice to someone who is about to go through a divorce concerning what that person should expect. Inaccurate evaluations of what to expect as a reasonable result can cause a person to have unrealistic expectations before the process is even started and before they have ever even met with a lawyer who can give them a reasonable range of expectations.

Having an attorney with the resources and knowledge to give you the best representation is vital to your interest and the interest of your family.  You also want to make sure they will exhaust all avenues and be willing to research, pursue and implement strategies to provide the best possible outcome.

The divorce process is difficult enough as it is. Starting off with unrealistic expectations makes more heartache, unhappiness and perhaps higher legal bills in all probability during an already painful process. Understanding how to set reasonable expectations based on sound legal advice from an experienced practitioner ensures a person starts the divorce process with a firm footing on reality based on carefully crafted legal advice and experience. Reasonable expectations, therefore, are much more likely to result in reasonable results.

Rob McAngus, Partner with Verner Brumley Parker, P.C., is Board Certified in family Law and his practice is devoted primarily to family law, including high conflict divorce, custody cases, and complex property issues. In addition to being selected on the Board of Directors for the Family Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association; he values your priorities as a parent and works with you to achieve the goals that will help transition your family to a new normal.  As both an adopted child and a member of a blended family, Rob can provide a unique perspective in the practice of family law.

Rob has been recognized in Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in 2016 through 2020, and recently The National Advocates recognized Rob as one of the Top 40 Under 40.  He can be reached by calling 214.526.5234 or email at rmcangus@vernerbrumley.com.  Mr. McAngus received his bachelor’s degree cum laude and master’s degree from Baylor University and graduated cum laude from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University.