Divorces are never easy, so you need all the support you can get. After your spouse has submitted their divorce documents in the court of law, you'll be served with the papers. Usually, the court will serve divorce papers consisting of complaints as well as summon. The summon notifies you, as the defendant, that the court is ready to hear your case.

The complaint explains the other spouse's pleadings resulting in the divorce. It will also entail information such as children's details, custody details, you and your spouse's names, your country of residence and alimony information.

Now that you understand some basics involved in the process, here are four things you are supposed to do after receiving the court papers.

1. Read Through the Papers

Divorce papers contain many intricate details, which you need to read through carefully. Find out which court has served you the document and the response deadline. It is also essential to know whether your spouse has legal representation and then take the next step explained below.

2. Contact a Family Lawyer

The next thing you need to do after reading the divorce papers is to contact a family lawyer. There is a lot on the line, such as children's custody, inheritance and alimony, so representing yourself is not an option. Additionally, the lawyer can clarify any information that you do not understand on the papers. Also, marriage dissolution cases involving property division can be quite complex and often require the intervention of a competent lawyer. Therefore, the best thing to do after being served with divorce paperwork is to hire a family lawyer.

3. Give a Response

Now that you have a lawyer by your side, you can finally sit down and respond as required. The court will serve the divorce paperwork with a deadline for responding. Failing to respond means the court can grant your spouse almost everything they have requested in the court papers. Your lawyer should be the one to submit your response.

4. Be Well Prepared For the Hearing

After you have done all the above, you now need to get set for what is coming ahead. Your legal representative can help you prepare adequately. Besides knowing what questions the judge might ask, you also need to provide all the documents that the court might need. 

After separation, just be prepared to receive divorce papers sooner or later from your spouse. For that reason, it is crucial to prepare in advance. When you follow the above steps, the divorce procedure will be a lot easier. If you have been served divorce papers, contact a lawyer.