After a divorce has been filed, there can be a lot of loose ends for the parties in terms of how to deal with items like payment of bills, child custody, and support issues, etc.
This can be problematic in many respects because right after a divorce has been filed, there are not normally any orders in place through the court. Without any orders in place, many are not sure what they should do and what they shouldn’t do.
In many cases, the parties will ultimately end up in court on a pedente lite or temporary motion (or something called similar in various jurisdictions). In these motions, the parties ask the court to enter an order as to payment of bills, child custody, and support issues, etc., while the case is pending.
In many cases, the parties may not agree on these items and a judge will have to decide. In other cases, the parties may be able to agree.
But before a pedente lite or temporary motion being heard, judges ordinarily are looking for the maintenance of the status quo. The laws can certainly vary by state. Individuals should clearly get the advice of an attorney licensed and competent to practice law in their jurisdiction for specific advice.
But as a general rule, maintenance of the status quo pending further order of the court is what lots of judges are hoping for from the parties. That means that the parties are generally expected to pay bills and obligations in the same matter before the divorce.
Parties are also expected to each give each other access to the children. Money and assets are generally not to be moved, transferred, encumbered, or concealed.
If you are going through a divorce action that was recently filed and need advice, Stange Law Firm, PC can help. You can contact us at 1-855-805-0595.