How to Act in a Divorce Trial
During a divorce trial, the judge and your attorney expect you to act professionally. Your demeanor should be calm and at all times respectful of the judicial process. Behaving inappropriately can lower your credibility and in extreme circumstances, result in criminal charges for contempt of court. So that you are not caught off guard by any aspect of your divorce trial, review courtroom procedures with your attorney before your hearings begin.
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Instructions
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Use an appropriate volume when speaking. To ensure that the court reporter, judge and attorneys obtain accurate statements, use a clear, loud voice when you testify. If you are having a private conversation with your attorney, speak softly to protect your privacy and avoid disrupting the proceedings.
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Stay calm and avoid emotional reactions. Even though your divorce trial may bring up sensitive issues, it is important to remain calm and let your attorney handle any disputes according to courtroom procedure.
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Use appropriate language and behavior. When talking to the judge and your spouse's attorney, use formal language, avoiding slang terms, profanity, eye-rolling or any other type of gesture that may imply disrespect.
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Choose clean, professional clothing. Your outfit at a divorce trial should be similar to that which you would wear to a job interview. Conservative business suits are standard courtroom apparel for both men and women.
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Speak only when the judge or an attorney speaks to you. During divorce trial proceedings, it is inappropriate to interrupt any parties or speak out of turn. If you need to address an emergency issue with your attorney, do so quietly, and never while the judge is talking.
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