Divorce Court: 5 Things You Should Do To Enhance Your Credibility Divorce Court
Posted: Friday, May 21, 2010
by Lucille Uttermohlen
Uttermohlen Law Office
I was never a fan of stuffy people. When I was a child, I took special pleasure in offending the sensibilities of the righteous. Teachers, and anyone else who struck me as snooty, were the best targets for my warped and sometimes wildly inappropriate sense of humor.
Not much has changed since I was young. I'd like to say that is because not much time has passed since then, but I never tell a lie even I find unbelievable. I still like to give "authority" a run for its money, and it seems to like to return the favor by giving me a run for my life. Having established myself as not particularly reverent towards the government and its protocol, I do believe that the following tips will help you negotiate the courtroom in your divorce case.
If you are telling the judge something, she needs to be able to trust your ability to be observant and truthful. If you look like you just stumbled out of bed with a hangover, the court might be inclined to doubt your honesty. This may seem unfair, , but remember, the judge doesn't have that long to acquaint himself with you, and he has to rely on first impressions. If you look like you just woke up after a wild night's partying, the judge doesn't have any other information to tell him that you are actually a fine, upstanding citizen who just takes casual to a new level.
2. The proper dress for court is closer to a job interview than a day on the golf course. Don't dress for play. T-shirts and jeans are fine for working around the house. Tight skirts and low cut blouses are great for a night on the town. In court, you are trying to look formal, so that you will be believable. You don't have to wear a suit. Tails and gowns are unnecessary. However, modest blouses, sports shirts, slacks and skirts show that you care about your appearance, and the judge can trust what you have to say.
3. Don't wear a lot of perfume or after shave. The judge or others in the courtroom may find that your sweet floral bouquet activates their allergies. It is fine to wear a little discrete scent. However, if your aroma arrives before you do, you may find that people are trying to escape before you get there. . Don't take it personally. A skunk would garner about the same reaction, and it wouldn't be offended.
4. If you are being called as a witness, soap and water should be recent indulgences. Tooth brushes are nice, too. No one likes to sit in close quarters with someone whose personal hygiene is questionable. The judge isn't interested in what you had for lunch just now, let alone what you ate last night or the week before. We all have bodies, and we know how bad they can smell, so there's no reason to accidentally educate the court on that subject.
5. Don't bring your small children to court with you. Getting a baby-sitter isn't always easy, but you'll be glad you did. It is difficult for everyone to concentrate if they have to endure Junior's screaming or chasing around the courtroom. Besides, you'll be able to hear what is going on around you better if you don't have to worry about little Susie pulling the court's new computer system on her head.
You may ask who died and made me Peggy Post. I don't blame you. I hate to be instructed about the obvious, too. You would be surprised, however, at how many people treat the courtroom like an extension of their patio deck. This mind set is not helpful when you are facing someone who has your important business in her hands. Wearing nice clothes and not bringing your kids with you may not guarantee that you'll win your case, but these things will give you a leg up.
Copyright (c) 2010 Lucille Uttermohlen
--------
Need some free legal help? Write to The Law Lady at thelawlady@utter-law.com or read informative articles about relationship issues at http://www.couple-or-not.com
This Article has been viewed 191 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Great article, Lucille Peggy Post! I'm not a fan of stuffy people either, but I had to defend myself in court once without representation and I took great care over my personal presentation. I won, too!
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.