Understanding the Divorce Process
The following information will help you understand the steps in the divorce process. Our attorneys will take you through each step and explain the details throughout the process. We believe that good communication is a big part of good representation.
Initial paperwork: When you hire our firm, we will first ask you to fill out paperwork, which gives us an overview and history of your marital and financial situation. From that paperwork, we will open a file and start the initial court papers called pleadings.
Service: Our attorneys will get the pleadings to the marshall for service. There are several methods the marshall may use to serve the papers on your spouse. In some cases, we may be able to complete a “friendly service.” In this type of service, the marshall will call your spouse and arrange a time for them to meet to serve the papers. For many cases, this is a good way to get the divorce started on the right foot.
90-day waiting period: Next, we will file your divorce papers with the court. This starts the mandatory 90-day waiting period. During this period, the parties will exchange information and work to resolve any financial and custody issues. At this time, we can hold depositions and serve interrogatories to gather evidence for trial. We can also file for any necessary temporary orders to provide for child support or alimony.
Negotiations and settlements: After evidence is gathered, we will sit down with you to make a recommendation for settlement. We can then send a settlement offer to the other party and begin negotiations. If the negotiations are successful, we will draft and file a divorce agreement, avoiding the expense of trial.
Pretrial procedures: If we are unable to reach an agreement, or are only able to agree on certain issues in the divorce, we will begin pretrial procedures. Pretrial procedures, including meetings with mediators, will be scheduled to help you and your spouse work through your differences. If there are custody issues, a social worker may be used to help determine what is in the best interests of the child.
Settlement or trial: After pretrial procedures, if you are able to reach an agreement, then we can complete your divorce. If not, we will proceed to trial and the remaining issues in your divorce will be decided by a family law judge.
At Bellenot & Boufford, LLC, our Newtown attorneys have over 50 years of combined experience representing clients going through a divorce in Fairfield County, New Haven County and the surrounding areas of Connecticut. If you have questions about the divorce process, we can help you.
Our experience can help you find the peace of mind you need in your divorce. Contact us to discuss solutions to your family-related issues.
Free and Meaningful Phone Consultations With a Family Law Attorney
When you contact our law firm for a free initial phone consultation, you will discuss your divorce case with an experienced attorney right away. We will give you the meaningful information you need to decide how you want to proceed with your divorce. We want to give you peace of mind from the very start.
Family Law Articles of Interest
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Bellenot & Boufford, LLC
Workers’ Compensation Overview and Process
According to the current laws of Connecticut, an injury that someone suffers during and in the course of employment is compensable and eligible for a workers’ compensation claim. If you are not able to work for three or more days, you qualify for workers’ compensation. If you are injured in an on-the-job car accident, or other work injury involving someone other than another employee or your employer, you may be eligible to file a third-party claim as well as a claim for the workers’ comp injury.
Take Quick Action Following a Workplace Accident
In most cases, as an injured worker, you only have one year from the date the injury occurred to file a claim for benefits. It is important to act quickly to preserve your claim by reporting your injury to your supervisor or manager immediately and seeking medical attention. Additionally, there are forms that must be filled-out and processed correctly.
If your case is accepted, the insurance company is supposed to issue a voluntary agreement that includes all the relevant details of your case. They must pay you your out of work benefits and provide you with reasonable and necessary medical treatment.
If the insurance company denies your claim, you should receive a form stating the denial and then you can request a hearing for the denied claim. The Workers’ Compensation Commission has its own rules and differs from Superior Court. Cases move more quickly and a hearing can usually be scheduled within four to six weeks after starting your claim.
The first couple of hearings will be more informal where you sit down with a workers’ compensation commissioner and the insurance company representative or their counsel. The commissioner can provide recommendations, but cannot normally issue a binding order. The parties can accept or contest the recommendations and request a more formal hearing, which is the equivalent of a trial, if necessary. Following the formal hearing, the commissioner will then issue an order that the parties must accept or appeal. Appeals first go through the Commission Review Board (CRB) and then to the appellate court.
Help Ensure That Your Rights Remain Protected
Many people feel that they can handle a workers’ compensation claim by themselves, but it is important to remember that this is still a legal process and you can easily forfeit rights and benefits if you do not have all of the necessary information and act properly.
Our attorneys can help ensure that you receive proper treatment for your injuries. It is important to remind the doctor that this is a workers’ compensation claim every time you see him or her. In many cases, the insurance company will assign a nurse case manager who will contact you about your claim. You do not have to speak with them. You should follow all instructions from your treating physician and provide regular updates to your employer, but you should exercise caution because everything you say can be used against you if your employer tries to deny your claim.
It is important to remember that workers’ compensation is not a full recovery system. It is more of a safety net. Your average weekly earnings for the year before you were injured, along with your tax filing status, will be used to calculate the weekly benefits you are entitled to receive. The type and amount of benefits you receive are dependent upon your medical status and vary throughout the duration of your case. The attorneys at Bellenot & Boufford constantly monitor your medical and benefit status to make sure you are receiving all treatment and compensation you are entitled to.
The Newtown lawyers at Bellenot & Boufford, LLC, have over 50 years of combined experience helping clients navigate the workers’ compensation process successfully in Fairfield County, New Haven County and the surrounding areas of Connecticut. Our experience can help you find peace of mind.
Worker’s Compensation Articles of Interest
Free and Meaningful Phone Consultations
When you contact our law firm for a free initial phone consultation, you will discuss your workers’ compensation case with an experienced lawyer right away. We will give you the meaningful information you need to decide how you want to proceed with your case. We want to give you peace of mind from the very start. Call 203-304-9050 (877-286-3414 toll free) or contact us to schedule your free initial phone consultation.
