Attorneys handle much of the interaction with the judge and other parties in the courtroom. Nonetheless, Petitioners and Respondents serve their best interests if they show up for hearings before a judge. Even if the client says nothing, their presence illustrates how seriously they take the proceedings.
Short marriage leads to a long divorce process
New York socialite Julianne Michelle Reeves did not understand (or ignored) that rule when she skipped a Manhattan Supreme Court hearing regarding custody and support disputes. This is the latest chapter of a three-year-long divorce after a 14-month marriage to construction executive Karl Reeves.
Other incidences in the past include shouting uncontrollably in the courtroom, saying Reeves abused their young daughter. In light of that outburst and other erratic behavior, the judge ordered the mother to undergo a mental health assessment.
The mother was hoping that this hearing would improve her circumstances, notably:
- To double child support from $1,681 a month to $5,663 per month despite not having custody
- To get alimony raised from $7,000 to $10,000 per month
- To get at least partial custody of her daughter (the father has temporary legal and physical custody)
The judge responded to the plaintiff’s absence from the courtroom by denying all the mother’s requests. The mother claimed after the fact that she didn’t know about the hearing.
It is best to listen to the judge
Those hoping to negotiate new arrangements involving custody and support serve their own best interests by not irritating the judge or wasting the judge’s time. It is also useful to hire an experienced Board-certified Family Law expert attorney in Collin County, Dallas County, Denton County, Midland County, Ector County, and surrounding areas of Texas. These experienced Board-certified expert Family Law courtroom attorneys understand the rules of the courtroom and can effectively work towards the best possible outcome for their clients.