1
Understanding Your Role as a Witness
As a party to the divorce, you are both the most important witness and the person with the most at stake. Understanding your role helps you testify effectively.
What the judge wants from you:
- Honesty: Even when the truth is uncomfortable
- Clarity: Direct, understandable answers
- Responsiveness: Answering the question that was asked
- Composure: Emotional stability under pressure
- Credibility: Consistency and reasonableness
Your testimony matters because:
- You have firsthand knowledge of your marriage and family
- Your demeanor tells the judge as much as your words
- Credibility determinations often decide close cases
- You can explain context that documents cannot
Types of examination:
- Direct examination: Your attorney asks questions to tell your story
- Cross-examination: Opposing attorney tries to undermine your credibility or version of events
- Redirect: Your attorney clarifies anything muddied during cross-examination
- Recross: Brief follow-up from opposing attorney (rare)
Judges evaluate witnesses constantly—not just during testimony. They notice how you react to your spouse's testimony, how you treat court staff, and how you handle difficult moments.
Step 1 of 60% complete