Your Guide to Cross Examination in Divorce Trials

Divorce is a complicated subject. In the legal world, divorce cases can differ greatly as you move from one couple to the next, depending on the background of the couple at hand, and the orders that they may be fighting for. Though the cases themselves are varied, it's worth noting that many child custody attorneys and divorce lawyers like Mr. Shapiro, will often access a proven range of techniques to present their case to the court. These methods provide a framework for divorce attorneys, which allow them to highlight the key points of a client's story so that it is easier for a judge to follow.

Most divorce cases begin with an opening statement, before the lawyers begin a process of direct and cross-examination. Though direct examination is often used as a solution for establishing context in a trial, cross-examination focuses on transforming the perspective of the court in order to suit the needs of a client. During the cross-examination process, divorce lawyers like Mr. Darren Shapiro will ask the witnesses called by other parties to provide information supporting their clients story through the facts outlined in a case. Cross-examination permits opposing lawyers, and even attorneys for children in a custody dispute, to ask the witness questions to draw important points of data into the light.

Mr. Shapiro will often access a combination of direct and cross-examination to give insight and evidence to the court regarding the unique matters at hand. However, it's worth noting that cross-examination is often a more aggressive process than direct examination. For instance, Mr. Shapiro can use leading questions during a cross-examination, to help show his client's side of the story. This means that he can outline the story he is trying to tell on the behalf of his client, drawing attention to certain facts, and ignoring others. Generally, Mr. Shapiro will position his questions in short, direct statements that are intended to inspire specific responses. This is because questioning lawyers want to control the witness through cross-examination.

Importantly, cross-examination can be an effective solution for divorce attorneys regardless of whether they are opposed to what the witness has already said. For instance, in some cases, if the testimony the witness provides supports a client's case, Mr. Shapiro might ask them a few questions that bring further attention to the key elements of that testimony. On the other hand, if a witnesses’ testimony might damage the case for a client, a divorce lawyer will use cross examination in an effort to poke holes in the story, showing that the witness might not be as credible as the court originally thought.

Mr. Darren Shapiro endeavors to be an effective child custody lawyer and divorce attorney because he knows the importance of using the power of storytelling in cross-examination. In any case, both lawyers must attempt to tell a believable story that highlights the unique nuances of their client's side. The idea is to use cross-examination, direct examination, and various statements to make a story as compelling as possible, convincing the judge to provide the order that the client wants. By using direct, short statements in cross-examination, Mr. Shapiro can help the witness to tell his client's version of the story in their own words. For example, he might say: "You saw my client speaking with the neighbor?" "The other party appeared to be intoxicated?"

Many child custody attorneys and divorce lawyers will also use a strategy known as looping in cross-examination to keep their witnesses on track. For instance, they might repeat the name of the couple the questions are about several times to enhance concentration. For instance: "You went to the Robinson's home", "You saw the Robinsons drinking alcohol". On the other hand, transitional questions can help to move the mind of a witness from one scenario to another, so that they can offer a more accurate picture of the circumstances in question. A transitional question may be: "Now I'm going to speak to you about the night of October 10th, do you remember that night?"

Like many other features in a divorce case, Mr. Shapiro will use cross-examinations to his advantage to help him provide the best support to his client. In any divorce case, a cross-examination can be a powerful thing, as it helps the judge to see statements in another light, particularly the statements that might look bad for Mr. Shapiro's client. Generally, divorce attorneys use their cross-examination time to help address the idea that witnesses might not always be entirely credible, or reliable when providing accounts of a situation.

The world of family law is an inherently complex, and emotional space. Often, in divorce cases, emotions can run high, and personal biases can get in the way of providing the court with the full truth of a situation. Cross-examination can be a strategy used by divorce attorneys and child custody lawyers to show the judge that the testimonies revealed during direct examinations might not be entirely complete and reliable. In any circumstances, additional testimony needs to be considered when it comes to providing a complete picture of the case at hand. With cross-examination, Mr. Shapiro can help the court to make a more informed decision about the needs of any party considering things like child support, child custody, and maintenance.

With a combination of opening and closing statements, cross-examination, and direct examination, the judge in a divorce case can get a more accurate view of the matter at hand, and understand the needs of a client in a more significant way. To learn more about how cross-examination can be used in your upcoming case for family law or divorce, or discuss your own specific circumstances further, please contact our principal, Mr. Darren M. Shapiro at your leisure. Mr. Shapiro is available on the phone at (516) 333-6555, or you can connect with him through our simple online form.