Baltimore & Towson Lawyer Discusses The Importance of Discovery In The Divorce Case.
For many people, divorce is not an easy process to go through. While some divorces are amicable, many couples experience great difficulty trying to deal with its various aspects. In fact, some parties are very concerned with the possibility that their soon-to-be exes will attempt to hide certain things, particularly when it comes to assets and/or money. But as your Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer knows, there are ways to help ensure that all necessary information is set forth and revealed during the divorce process. That is why it is crucial for divorcing parties to work with skilled attorneys in order to make certain that proper discovery is done and the information sought is obtained.
What is Discovery?
Simply stated, discovery is a part or phase of the litigation process during which both individuals ask for certain information from each other in an effort to find out as much as possible about each side in order to craft a fair settlement or for use during the trial. In family law, there are generally two primary kinds of discovery--requests for production of documents and interrogatories. Under Maryland law, the requests have to be made formally and once the individual has received the request, he or she has 30 days to respond.
Requests for Production Of Documents
As just about any Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer knows, the success or failure of custody and divorce cases often hinges on the production of documents. An individual can make a request for any and all documents that are in an ex-spouse's control or custody. The ex might have certain documents, pictures, audio/videotapes and other electronic data that can prove to be critical to one's divorce case. The documents typically include tax returns, pay stubs, report cards, property valuations, and deeds.
Of course, not all cases will be the same. For some individuals, the business documents may be more important to the case, while in other instances, certain personal correspondence, emails and/or receipts might be of greater importance. And given the use of social media in recent years, more and more attorneys are starting to seek postings that may be on Facebook, Twitter and other text messaging systems.
Interrogatories
Another type of discovery is an interrogatory. Interrogatories are questions that one party poses to the other to learn more about certain things that may be important to the divorce case. As noted above, the questions must be answered within 30 days of being sent, and typically, there are no more than 30 questions to answer. The parties answering the questions should keep in mind that they must be answered truthfully, as the answers are considered to be given under oath.
Many people often question the type of information they need to seek from the interrogatories. The key will be to ask questions that are pertinent to the case. For example, if the case has an adultery component, the interrogatories should include questions about adultery. Additionally, it may be important to ask about finances, to include assets, income, expenses and liabilities.
There are also other types of discovery methods that may be used, to include subpoenas, Requests for Admissions, examinations and depositions. If you have questions or concerns about the discovery process and how it can affect your case, contact a Baltimore and Towson divorce lawyer at the Law Offices of Amar Weisman, LLC right away.
Call (410) 321-4994 For a Free Consultation
Call The Law Offices of Amar S. Weisman at (410) 321-4994 to schedule a Free Consultation. The Purpose of the consultation is to determine whether you want to retain this law firm as your Baltimore County & Harford County Family Lawyer. If you do wish to proceed, then you must pay a retainer. See Our Policy on Fees and Costs. The family firm is located next to The Circuit Court for Baltimore County, at 1018 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21204.
