How can you do well in court during your divorce or custody trial? Tell the truth. First, to your attorney, and then, when you are on the stand.
I do not want my clients to try and make themselves look good. That’s my job.
I tell my clients that when they talk to me, I do not want them to try to make themselves look good. That’s my job. I want them to tell me the very worst things their spouse or the other parent might say about them. Why? Because I want to hear it from them, in my office, with plenty of time to prepare for how to respond to it, and how to present it to the court. No attorney want’s to learn about their client for the first time in the middle of trial. I want my clients to do well in court, and that happens when they tell the truth. I need to hear the truth from them, in the very beginning.
TELL THE TRUTH BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
Why should you tell the truth in the courtroom? First, because it is the right thing to do. You are under penalty of perjury, and our entire legal system hinges on citizens having enough respect for our courts to raise their hand, swear, and then actually tell the truth.
TELL THE TRUTH BECAUSE IT WILL HELP YOUR CASE AND HELP YOU DO WELL IN COURT.
If that will not convince you, though, it will also help your case. I have seen a lot of cases where someone did more damage to their case by being caught lying than they ever would have by telling the truth that they were trying to hide in the first place. And contrary to public opinion, no one has to “prove” you are lying. The judge or jury just have to decide they think you are. That is enough to sink your case. You want the judge or jury to believe you. You will do well in court when you tell the truth.
QUICKLY ADMITTING SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU LOOK BAD, ALLOWS THE JUDGE OR JURY TO MOVE ON AND TO CONSIDER THE REST OF YOUR CASE.
Even if the judge or jury can’t make up their mind about whether or not you are lying about something that is negative to your case, they end up spending most of their energy on your case trying to decide whether or not to believe you. They may miss important aspects of your case that make you look good. If you want to do well in court, tell the truth.
