You may be stressed out over so many other elements of your upcoming divorce hearing, that the last thing on your mind may be what you are going to wear that day. While this may seem like a frivolous detail in the grand scheme of things, it may matter to a certain extent. With that being said, please continue reading to learn what attire is most appropriate during your litigated divorce case and how an experienced Bergen County divorce attorney at McNerney & McAuliffe can provide you with helpful guidelines.
Does it matter what I wear to my divorce hearing?
Generally speaking, the New Jersey Family Court cannot and should not discriminate against you based on your physical appearance, including the clothes you wear. The bottom line is that they will reach their final judgment based on the presented evidence and state and federal laws. Although, it may not hurt to dress in a way that commands respect.
Even though you may have never step foot in one before, you may assume that courtrooms are rather formal settings. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, your wardrobe should match the setting. If you work in a corporate setting, it may be easier for you to understand that clothes you wear to a professional workplace are likely as suitable for a courtroom.
More specifically, for feminine clothing, this may entail a modest dress, a skirt of an appropriate length, a pantsuit, and/or a nice blouse. This means avoiding low necklines and high hemlines. For masculine clothing, this may be a suit and tie, dress pants, slacks, button-down shirt, or collared shirt. In turn, jeans, athletic sneakers, and t-shirts are ill-advised.
What should I wear to my mediation sessions?
Part of the reason why you may have been drawn to an alternative divorce resolution like mediation is because it fostered a more relaxed environment. So, staying outside the formal courtroom, you may assume you can leave your formal or professional attire in your closet. Well, you must be careful not to make too sweeping of a generalization.
This is because the main goal of mediation is to work collaboratively with your soon-to-be former spouse to settle on divorce-related terms together. So, if you dress in a way that can be objectively taken as sloppy, your spouse may take this as a sign that you are not taking this process as seriously as you should.
What you wear, combined with your body language, tone, and other external factors, may drive your spouse to the ultimate conclusion that you do not respect them and that you are unwilling to negotiate in good faith. Not only may this drive your divorce to the courtroom for litigated proceedings, but you may jeopardize your chances of remaining amicable with your spouse.
For further legal guidance, please look no further than a skilled Bergen County family law attorney. When you work with McNerney & McAuliffe, you can trust that you are in good hands. Schedule a consultation with us today.