Nashville, TN family law attorney Anne Hamer talks about discovery in a family law case. Discovery can be a challenging process for clients, Anne acknowledges, drawing from her own experience as a divorce lawyer. It involves gathering extensive information about a client’s financial status, health, and other pertinent details to share with the opposing spouse’s attorney. This thorough exploration ensures that both sides gain a comprehensive understanding of the case, covering assets such as cars, houses, bank accounts, and personal matters like social media interactions or extramarital relationships.

Anne highlights that Discovery can be both costly and emotionally taxing for clients, given the need to disclose personal information. After the initial written Discovery phase, the process may advance to depositions, where attorneys question clients about the information provided. While potentially uncomfortable, Anne advises clients to maintain complete honesty during Discovery. This approach builds trust and transparency, facilitating smoother negotiations regarding financial settlements and parenting plans.

Emphasizing the importance of openness early in the Discovery process, Anne believes it helps parties avoid prolonged litigation focused on fault and contentious issues. Instead, it enables them to work towards fair and practical resolutions that benefit all parties involved, particularly any children affected by the divorce.