• Home
  • About Laurie Schmitt
    ▼
    • About Laurie Schmitt Attorney
    • Honors and Awards
  • Divorce
    ▼
    • Separate Maintenance
    • Spousal Support and Modification
  • Family Law Services
    ▼
    • Child Custody
    • Paternity
    • Change of Domicile
    • Child Support
    • Post-Judgement Modification
    • Enforcement of Court Orders
    • Limited Scope Services
    • Uncontested Divorces
  • Alternative Divorce Options
    ▼
    • Mediation
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Uncontested Divorce Process
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Laurie Schmitt Family Law

W. Michigan family law specializing in Collaborative Divorce

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

616-608-4634

  • Home
  • About Laurie Schmitt
    • About Laurie Schmitt Attorney
    • Honors and Awards
  • Divorce
    • Separate Maintenance
    • Spousal Support and Modification
  • Family Law Services
    • Child Custody
    • Paternity
    • Change of Domicile
    • Child Support
    • Post-Judgement Modification
    • Enforcement of Court Orders
    • Limited Scope Services
    • Uncontested Divorces
  • Alternative Divorce Options
    • Mediation
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • Uncontested Divorce Process
  • Blog
  • Contact

What Happens at a Divorce Trial

June 24, 2022 By Laurie Schmitt

There are several ways your divorce can be finalized. Your divorce case can be finalized through negotiations, mediation, arbitration, or trial. If an alternate dispute resolution fails, and your case is set for trial, what can you expect to take place at the trial? The quick answer is at trial your attorney will present the issues, and the opposing attorney will do the same.

The following is an outline of what a day at trial resembles:

FIRST

Divorce Trial

OPENING STATEMENTS:  Opening statements are an opportunity for both sides to make an opening statement to the judge, briefly presenting their issues and the facts they intend to present. An opening statement is an outline presented by the attorneys, giving an overview of what they intend to show the judge at trial.

SECOND

WITNESSES:  Now that opening statements have concluded, witnesses will now take the stand to testify. In a divorce trial, the plaintiff (the person who filed the divorce) will present their witnesses, evidence, and exhibits first.  Once they have completed presenting their case, the defendant will call their witnesses and present their evidence and exhibits.

THIRD

CLOSING ARGUMENTS:  Once both parties have presented all of their evidence, exhibits, and witnesses, it is time for closing arguments. Similar to opening statements, closing arguments are where each attorney will provide statements to the judge that explains the facts that were presented at trial, apply the facts presented to the Michigan law, and argue to the judge for a particular outcome.

LASTLY

WRITTEN ORDER:  After the trial has ended, the judge will review and take into consideration all of the testimony, exhibits, and evidence presented, apply the Michigan case law, and issue a written order. This written order is the judge’s ruling on the issues. After the written order, the plaintiff’s attorney will prepare the judgment of divorce. This judgment of divorce must comport with the findings of the judge’s written order.  Once the judgment of divorce is submitted to the court, the judge will sign the judgment of divorce and the parties are officially divorced.

GRAND RAPIDS COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE ATTORNEY SERVING KENT, OTTAWA, AND ALLEGAN COUNTY.

Are you in the Kent, Ottawa, or the Allegan area and have questions about divorce and trial? Laurie Schmitt of Schmitt Law, PLLC has experience bringing divorces to trial and can help you bring your issues to court and obtain an outcome you are satisfied with. Call our Grand Rapids office at 616-608-4634 or contact us through our online form to schedule your consultation.

Filed Under: Collaborative Divorce, Divorce Tagged With: Process

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • The Importance of Co-Parenting
  • Divorce and Confidential Settlement Agreements
  • Marital Property versus Separate Property
  • LIMITED SCOPE LEGAL SERVICE
  • Communication With Your Attorney
  • How Can We Help?
    616-608-4634
  • Why You Should Pay For a Consultation

Footer

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Laurie K. Schmitt
Attorney, Mediator, and Collaborative Lawyer

401 Hall Street SW
Suite 112D
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Phone: 616-608-4634

Visa and MasterCard Accepted
Laurie Schmitt of Schmitt Law, PLLC is a West Michigan family law attorney specializing in collaborative divorce as well as separation, divorce, child custody and support, paternity, and other family law litigation. She is licensed by Michigan State Bar and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and has extensive advanced training in divorce mediation and collaborative divorce.

Disclaimer

Copyright © 2023 - All Rights Reserved | Web Design by The Crouch Group | Log in