Can A Lawyer Help Me If my Spouse Is Withholding Information?

If your spouse is withholding information because they don’t want to get divorced, you may find yourself needing help from a lawyer.

Can A Lawyer Help Me If my Spouse Is Withholding Information?

John Schuman, a family lawyer in Toronto, answers:
Family lawyers can make a huge difference when your ex-spouse is being difficult or aggressive. A lawyer does a lot more than allowing you to avoid interaction with your difficult ex by communicating on your behalf. A good family lawyer will explain all of your options to help assert your rights to your spouse, and advise which choices are the best for you. Also, good family lawyers can make the fight worthwhile because they know how to handle difficult, bitter or angry ex-spouses so that that their clients really get what they want and need. The law offers several alternatives for protecting a good spouse and ensuring that your ex-spouse’s bad actions or behavior are brought to justice.

The most difficult ex-spouses try to convince a family court judge, family arbitrator or mediator that they are the heroes and the innocent spouse is the villain. It is very important that a judge or arbitrator sees the reality of the situation clearly. Judges spend little time with family court litigants. They often have to make important decisions based on first impressions or on written materials. Saying the wrong things or complaining about a bad spouse in the wrong way may give the judge the wrong impression and allow a nasty ex-spouse to come across as angelic. Good family lawyers know what judges want to hear, how to persuade the judge and make sure that the judge sees the true balance of your relationship. If the judge sees how terribly your ex-spouse is acting, the judge will want to help you fix the problems that your ex may be causing or caused previously.

Good and experienced family lawyers have seen all the tricks that a bad spouse could use. They know how to turn around the judge’s misguided opinions. Good family lawyers know where to find any hidden income and the best way to deal with spouses who refuse to provide information, which may include convincing a judge to base decisions on the assumption that a spouse who is hiding information must have a good reason for doing so. When it comes to children, good family lawyers cannot only help you to be a better parent after divorce, but they will also teach you strategies for correcting the harm that the other parent may have caused.

If you ask almost any family court judge, they will say that one of the biggest mistakes that separated spouses make is not having a lawyer help them. Not only do family lawyers know how to protect your rights, but they can also reassure you that you are taking the right position and doing what is best for yourself and your family, even when your ex is trying very hard to convince you otherwise. The biggest benefits that a family lawyer can offer you are confirming that you are doing what is right and demonstrating the ability to get you to the best resolution for your situation.

Want to learn more about family court law? Read our article: Does a family court judge rule on all divorce related issues?