As divorce lawyers in South Africa, we often help clients who want to know what to do when they receive a divorce summons. Here’s our advice:
1. The most important step is to stop and breathe. Take a moment and consider. Do not panic, but give yourself time to think.
2. Make an appointment with an attorney. This is not optional. Talk to friends and acquaintances who you know to have had a civil divorce to ask who they made use of or look up (on attorneys.co.za) the names of those who have stated that they perform this sort of work.
3. Telephone your insurance broker or investment adviser and obtain a printout of your investments and insurance. Log on to your banking and credit card accounts and get balances of all your liabilities.
4. Try to do your own list of your assets and your liabilities. Use your bank accounts to draw up a list of your monthly income and expenses. If applicable, look at the property listings in your area to get an idea of the possible value of your house or alternative accommodation.
5. You have now properly prepared for your consultation with the family law attorney.
6. Consult an attorney as quickly as possible to get an understanding of your legal rights and obligations so that you can decide whether to make a settlement proposal or two seek mediation or whether you may have to litigate some aspect of the breakdown of the marriage.
7. If you are in a financial position to do so, make an appointment to see a therapist to help you work through the inevitable feelings of anger, betrayal, disappointment and sadness which every divorce will cause.
Need legal advice? Set up a consultation with our divorce lawyer today.