Best Child Custody Lawyers in Honolulu, HI

The first step is to contact an attorney. Then, your lawyer will write a Complaint for Divorce that states why you want a divorce and how you would prefer to settle your finances and other issues such as child custody. Next, your attorney will file the Complaint with the court and serve the Complaint to your spouse.

Every divorce is different, and therefore the timeline of a divorce can vary. In general, there are approximately 10 steps in a divorce process. You may be able to bypass some steps, depending on your situation. The whole process can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.

Mediation is an alternative to litigation you may want to use during your divorce. Opting for mediation has a few benefits. Mediation can allow you more control of your decision-making during the divorce process. It may be especially beneficial for parents who plan on sharing custody of their children, as it can help them learn how to make joint decisions. This can benefit your children and help you forge a better relationship with your ex in the future. Settlements created from mediation also have a higher success and compliance rate. Mediation may take less time than litigation and can cost less in the long run. Most importantly, you and your spouse compromise to control the outcome yourselves, rather than letting a judge take that decision-making power away from you.