In my 28 years’ experience, it’s not common. Indeed, if divorce cases took dramatic turns routinely, they couldn’t be considered dramatic turns.
That stated, very true a skilled divorce lawyer needs to be prepared for a case to take dramatic or unexpected turns. No one can predict dramatic and unexpected turns, but a good lawyer can and does develop his skills and perceptions so that when a case takes an unexpected and or dramatic turn, he responds most appropriately and effectively. Neither over or under reacting. Placing neither too much nor too little emphasis on the occurrence and what its overall impact on the case will be.
One way for good attorneys to prevent adverse sudden and dramatic, unexpected turns in a case is to ensure the client has been completely honest and transparent with his own attorney. I’m amazed at the number of clients who will present their attorneys with an unnaturally virtuous facade in the hopes that if they can get their lawyers to buy it, they can get courts to buy it.
A case built on misrepresentations and deceptions is already on shaky ground and can easily and ironically take a sudden and dramatic turn for the worse when those lies and deceptions are exposed. If you have skeletons in your closet and you have the good fortune to clean them out before you file for or are sued for divorce, do it. And what you cannot fix and clean up you need to own and then do your best to mitigate. Being responsible and accountable. Not only does it preserve your credibility, but some courts will also admire you for not trying to pull the wool over their eyes as so many people with flaws and checkered pasts will try to do. It shows maturity and resilience. It engenders trust.
Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277
