How does a party initiate a request for support or custody?
Any party seeking relief should consult an attorney for specific advice. Generally, after the papers are filed with the clerk’s office, one of the spouses may file forms asking for a hearing at which a judge will decide temporary custody, visitation, and support issues. Other issues that might be decided before the divorce is completed include temporary use of property, restraining orders, or orders for one spouse to pay the other’s attorney fees and court costs. If the spouses are not able to reach a permanent agreement on these issues, the court will ask each of them to write up their positions and submit them to the court. A trial date is then set to have a judge decide the issues.
