Family Law Attorney in Maui – Myths Regarding a Divorce

In the area of family law, many people have a lot of misconceptions about what a family law attorney on Maui really does when it comes to a divorce.

Stereotyping is not uncommon and often times, it’s easy to believe certain myths that friends or family have drawn from different circumstances.

Without any further ado, here are the most frequent misconceptions that revolve around the common family law attorney in Maui and divorce matters.

#1: A family law attorney on Maui can always obtain primary custody for the mother

People often believe that, in case parents get divorced, the mother is entitled to full parental custody. However, courts in Hawaii and those across the U.S. are gender neutral and the physical custody will be awarded to the parent who can best take care of the child.

Before making a final decision, the court will examine a variety of factors and decide what custody arrangement is best suited for the children.

#2: Good family lawyers lie in order to ensure a better settlement for their client

Wrong! There’s a common misconception that most family attorneys are deceitful. Many angry spouses often think that good divorce lawyers will do anything to settle a case in favor of their client. For that reason, people mistakenly believe that lawyers are always ready to propose “creative” solutions to hide assets, obtain a bigger settlement or even lie in order to obtain the custody of children.

The truth, however, is that lawyers are unlikely to risk getting disbarred over a dispute between spouses. A good lawyer on Maui can fight hard on your behalf, but a great lawyer will help you obtain the fair settlement you deserve without resorting to deceitful methods that could put both of you jeopardy.

#3: Family attorneys can help a parent not pay child support

Often times, people mistakenly believe that, by simply signing away their parental rights, they are allowed to “be excused” from financially supporting their children.

In truth, courts are typically reluctant to accepting the termination of parental rights and therefore, there isn’t much that a family law attorney on Maui can do. Under these circumstances, a parent remains legally obligated to pay child support to their ex-spouse until the child or children reach the age of emancipation.

#4: Family law attorneys can help couples obtain a quick divorce

Many people often think that a good family law attorney in Maui is able to accelerate the divorce procedure and obtain what is commonly known as a “quickie divorce”.

However, there is no such thing as a fast divorce. On the contrary, there’s nothing “quick” about the process, especially if the spouses need to divide their assets and / or discuss custody arrangement for the children.

#5: A family lawyer in Maui will cost a fortune

Last but not least, many mistakenly believe that all divorce attorneys cost a fortune. Fortunately, that’s just a myth.

While more complicated separations require the involvement of a team of lawyers and hours of negotiation, keep in mind that not all divorces require a substantial budget. If you are able to settle out of court, you may be able to save thousands of dollars or even more in the long run.