Chicago Defense Lawyer
GATHERING EVIDENCE
By Barbara Locke
One of the best ways to save money during the divorce or custody process is by helping your legal team gather evidence. You’ll want to be able to document every fact you have to prove in your case, at least the ones you can. Many times you can get information yourself for free or at low-cost that will save you hundred of dollars in legal and investigative fees.
You can get free copies of criminal records and civil orders from the court house — they’re public record. This applies to copies of orders between you and your soon to be ex, as well as orders between either of you and others. Does your ex have a history of DUIs? Get copies of those orders and sentences for use in your custody case.
Written evidence from your partner is very useful when he or she denies that something was said. Save letters and emails that confirm what you need to show. Even if it was written at a time when things were not disintegrating, it can still be relevant to the current case.
Keep a detailed calendar or diary of events to make sure you remember what has happened between you by the time you may actually get to hearing months later. Prepare a visual graph or timeline so your attorney can get an accurate picture of events in sequence – this can be a wonderful visual aid at trial as well, if done correctly.
In order to prove your case, you can get the following information ready for your attorney:
*Name, address and phone number of every person who could testify about your case
*Name, address and contact information for every medical provider who can document injuries or that have treated you for abuse-related injuries or provided mental health therapy, and a copy of a release that shows the provider may speak to your attorney. Name and address of medical providers who may have treated your partner who can be subpoenaed for court to prove his or her mental health or medical conditions, or who may have written reports that can be used.
*Name, address and contact information for school teachers, counselors and officials who have seen you interact with your children or have seen that you are a good parent
*Copies of school and day care records
*Photographs of the house where either of you live, the children’s rooms, the injuries either of the parents or others may have inflicted– anything you want to show
*Copies of police reports, answering machine tapes of threats
* Proof of drug or alcohol abuse by the other parent - evidence of attendance at counseling for substance abuse or anger management
Double-check with your attorney to see what else you can find that might bolster your case. Remember every dollar you save stays in your pocket to take care of your family.
Author 1593 > has blogged 22 times
