Leave the Divorce to a Professional Lawyer

Bang, bang, bang!

“We will now commence the trial regarding the request for designation of parental rights.”

Biological father: Duke Ludwig Müller. Biological mother: Jeanette. Their biological child, Lowell. Janet gently touched the names listed on the document.

Seeing her name next to his felt utterly strange.

“Representative of the father, please speak.”

The lawyer Ludwig had brought in was someone Natasha knew well. While not as expensive as Natasha, the lawyer was known for charging a hefty fee.

The only issue was that he didn’t have much experience in family court trials.

‘An expensive lawyer isn’t always a good one.’

No, come to think of it, Natasha’s fees were even higher, so perhaps “the more, the better” applied here.

“Your Honor, since Duke Ludwig Müller and Miss Jeanette are not in a marital relationship, this case falls under Article 909, Clause 4 of the Civil Code. Clause 4 states as follows.”

He read through Clause 4.

“When a child born outside of wedlock is acknowledged, or in cases of divorce, the parents must decide who will have parental rights… However, if this agreement is against the child’s welfare, the family court may order corrections…”

Though the law seemed tedious, its intent was clear: the court must help choose the parent who is more beneficial for the child.

“I have prepared some documents that might help assess the scale of Duke Müller’s assets and the extent of his influence.”

Thud.

The stack of papers he placed on the table was quite thick.

‘Being a duke in the Hamond Kingdom means he’s probably quite influential.’

Though Natasha, born and raised in Illyhad, was unfamiliar with such matters, she had heard how powerful nobles could be in other countries.

“Of course, wealth and power aren’t everything when raising a child, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have plenty.”

The judge responded with a thoughtful hum, acknowledging the point.

“On the other hand, when looking at Miss Jeanette’s financial status, though she is better off than the average commoner, that’s only by commoner standards.”

At that, Jeanette lowered her head. She felt guilty for lacking ability.

“Moreover, after consulting a specialist, we found that Lowell is highly intelligent and requires specialized education. While the Illyhad Empire does have national academies, it seems difficult for Miss Jeanette to afford the tuition.”

For a commoner to tighten their belt and send their child to a national academy was like a dream.

Most could only manage it with the sponsorship of a noble or if their parents were wealthy merchants.

If national academies were difficult, private academies were out of the question. Most private academies had exorbitant tuition, effectively barring commoners from entry.

‘There weren’t many commoners in law school either.’

Ultimately, higher education was a privilege for those with wealth or power.

Unfortunately, if Lowell were to grow up solely as Jeanette’s son, attending such academies would be a pipe dream.

“In ordinary cases, granting parental rights and custody to the mother is the right decision. However, given Lowell’s extraordinary talent, this case differs from the norm. Your Honor, while the comfort of childhood is important, so is the material wealth and environment that allows one to learn whatever they desire. That is all.”

The lawyer ended his speech with a satisfied look.

“Hmm. I see. Representative of the mother, please speak.”

“Your Honor, do you know how old Lowell is? He’s nine years old. He’s not an infant, and at that age, a child already forms a trusting and loving bond with their guardian. To separate him from his guardian now would have a severe emotional impact.”

Natasha, refusing to back down, began her argument.

“Moreover, while he is a minor, at this age he can make decisions for himself, and the child’s wishes are the most important factor in such cases. As the lawyer mentioned, Lowell is an extremely bright child. He understands the consequences of his choices.”

The lawyer frowned, clearly displeased that his own argument was being used against him.

Natasha didn’t flinch. In fact, she even smiled confidently.

“The person Lowell chose as his guardian is Miss Jeanette. There’s no need for further debate on that.”

“I object! Your Honor, while the child’s will is indeed important, we must remember that Lowell is only nine years old. He is a gifted child, and it would be a great loss to the empire to squander such talent!”

The lawyer passionately continued.

“Additionally, Lowell is still too young to fully understand how much his decisions will impact his future. While he may be a bright child, he lacks social experience. He cannot yet grasp the vast difference between living as the son of a commoner and living as the son of a duke.”

For now, the difference might only be in how lavish his dinner is, but as he grows, the gap would widen significantly.

Natasha understood all too well what that meant. Painfully so. Swallowing a curse, she pressed on with her argument.

“You don’t need to worry about that. Until now, Miss Jeanette may have been only slightly better off than the average commoner. But she’s about to become extremely wealthy.”

“What do you mean, Lawyer?”

“A lawsuit will soon be filed against you, Duke Müller.”

Ludwig, who had been watching the trial with his arms crossed in an arrogant manner, twitched an eyebrow.

“Civil Code Article 913 states that a parent has the right and obligation to protect and educate their child. Duke Müller, have you fulfilled that obligation in the past nine years?”

“Objection, Your Honor! The Lawyer is making absurd claims! The acknowledgment of the child was submitted only days ago. How could he have raised a child he didn’t know existed?”

“This is not absurd. When one parent fulfills their obligation, they have the right to claim child support from the other parent who has not.”

“Sustained.”

The judge responded calmly, while Ludwig’s lawyer became visibly more agitated.

“Even if child support is to be paid in the future, the amount won’t be enough to make her a sudden millionaire!”

Indeed, the Illyhad Empire’s courts were strict when it came to calculating child support. Ludwig didn’t seem like the type to skimp on money for Lowell, though.

“It’s not future payments I’m talking about. According to a Supreme Court ruling from the Empire’s year 561, ‘In cases where one parent raises a child due to circumstances, they can not only claim appropriate child support for the present and future, but also demand reimbursement for past expenses, as parental obligations begin from the child’s birth.’”

Supreme Court rulings were rarely overturned.

The opposing lawyer’s face turned pale, sensing defeat.

‘Hello? Is this your first time dealing with a divorce lawyer?’

It seemed they underestimated this case, thinking it was a simple custody battle.

After all, in most noble divorces, children usually remained with the parent of higher status.

This kind of fight for parental rights and custody was rare in the aristocratic world.

“Of course, if a lump sum payment is difficult, there are installment options. However, from the documents the lawyer provided, it seems Duke Müller is more than capable. While the exact amount will be discussed later, there’s no doubt that the funds will be sufficient to raise Lowell comfortably.”

Though Ludwig was on the verge of losing custody, he watched the trial as if it were someone else’s problem.

For a man who had come to another country to fight a legal battle over a child he barely knew, he seemed unusually calm.

Natasha, closely observing Ludwig’s demeanor, continued her argument.

“The financial issue has been resolved. As for emotional bonds, those with the mother far surpass those with the father. I trust Your Honor will make a wise decision regarding who should have custody and parental rights.”

The word choice clearly revealed the underlying thought: “If you designate the biological father as the legal guardian, you’re a complete fool.”

The judge cleared his throat and asked Ludwig’s attorney, “Do you have any rebuttal?”

At that moment, Ludwig whispered something to his lawyer. His previously downturned lips, anticipating defeat, suddenly lifted into a confident smile.

“Your Honor,” the lawyer began, trying to suppress his amusement, “Grand Duke Müller is more than willing to not only pay for past child support but also for future expenses. However.”

He continued, his tone barely masking his delight, “On the condition that he gets to meet young Lowell twice a month on weekends.”

“Are you referring to visitation rights?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Ah, so this is how he plans to play it.

Natasha now understood why Ludwig had been so calm. It occurred to her that Ludwig might have prepared even more meticulously than his lawyer.

“Twice a month, for the entire weekend? Natasha!” Jeanette asked urgently, but even she knew there was no way around it.

“There’s no way out of this. Visitation rights, like custody, are an inherent right for the biological father.”

The court had no jurisdiction over this aspect of parental rights. Obligations and rights were like two sides of the same coin.

If child support was his obligation, visitation rights were his entitlement.

“But what if he takes the child to the Kingdom of Hamond? I’ll lose Lowell forever.”

Illyhad Empire law didn’t extend to the Kingdom of Hamond.

If Ludwig took Lowell there, everything would unfold according to his desires.

“Jeanette, you should accompany them during the visits. The law can at least guarantee that.”

“You’re telling me I have to see him twice a month?”

Natasha understood that Janet found it difficult, considering he was her sister’s former fiancé and a one-night mistake, but there was no other option.

“Even if Grand Duke Müller is your parents’ enemy, you can’t stop him from seeing Lowell. To the child, he’s just his father.”

Personal grievances couldn’t be used as a reason to take parents away from their child.

“Moreover, if visitation rights are denied, it could work against you. In extreme cases, it might even lead to a change in custody.”

After thinking for a moment, lips tightly pressed together, Janet finally nodded in agreement.

“Lawyer?”

“Yes, Your Honor. We’ve just finished discussing it.”

“How do you feel about the father’s request for visitation twice a month?”

“We acknowledge that visitation rights are a legitimate claim of the father. However, as his homeland is in a foreign country where Illyhad Empire law does not apply, we are concerned about potential risks. To prevent any unfortunate incidents, we request that the mother accompany the child during the visits.”

The judge nodded, understanding Natasha’s concern. Protecting Lowell in the Kingdom of Hamond was indeed difficult.

“I understand. I will therefore order that visitation be carried out twice a month with the mother accompanying the child.”

Bang, bang, bang!

The judge’s gavel resounded sharply throughout the courtroom.