Maine High Conflict Divorce Attorney

Sometimes divorcing parties can reach an amicable agreement; other times, the divorce process can become a contentious and high-conflict situation. Such conflict may include domestic violence, economic misconduct, child abduction, parental alienation, parental kidnapping, omitted property, or contempt of Court Orders.

When a divorce has become a high-conflict situation, it is important to have a Divorce Trial Lawyer advocating for your interests and using the Court system to further your goals.

Economic Misconduct

Unfortunately, some spouses will engage in “economic misconduct” before, during, or after a divorce proceeding. A spouse engages in economic misconduct when he or she engages in the following behavior:

• Malicious dissipation of assets
• Spending marital income on an extramarital affair
• Spending marital income to pay for an addiction (drugs, gambling, porn, prostitution)
• Intentional destruction of property
• Intentional destruction of property
• Excessive and abnormal spending to dissipate assets
• Selling or conveying property pending divorce
• Spending on illegal activities

The Court, after making a finding that a spouse engaged in economic misconduct, requires the offending spouse to pay Reimbursement Spousal Support, in addition to other types of spousal support, to reimburse the other spouse for the dissipated assets and bad behavior.

If you suspect that your spouse is engaging in conduct that would likely be considered economic misconduct, your Divorce Trial Lawyer will help you collect evidence demonstrating such behavior and petition the Court to order the other party to cease such actions and for Reimbursement Spousal Support.

Contempt of Court Orders

Often times during a divorce proceeding, your attorney may file a Motion with the Court, such that a Court issues an Interim Order regarding parent-child visitation and schedules, child support, spousal support, or access to the Marital Home. Despite the Court Order, however, one spouse may fail to follow the Court’s direction. In this situation, your Family Law Trial Lawyer will help you determine whether you should file a Motion to Enforce or a Motion for Contempt with the Court.

• Motion to Enforce – You may request that the Court enforces its prior Judgment or Order with a Motion to Enforce. Your divorce attorney will draft and file the Motion, which outlines the date of the Court’s Judgment or Order and the other party’s failure or refusal to obey that Judgment or Order.
• Motion for Contempt – When filing a Motion for Contempt, you are asking the Court to declare that the opposing party is in contempt of a prior Judgment or Order and that such contempt of Court necessitates further Court involvement, including possibly ordering remedial sanctions against the offending party.

Skilled Family Law Litigators Defending Your Interests

Not every high-conflict divorce case requires litigation, but if yours does, the STEVE SMITH Trial Lawyers team is ready to help. With our in-depth knowledge of financial matters in divorce and courtroom experience, we assist many clients in successfully resolving high-conflict divorce cases, both in and out of court. Contact us for a consultation about your case today.