key questions to ask when meeting with a divorce attorney

by Elise Kihn 3 min read

First, ask yourself: Are you sure you actually need an attorney?

  1. Ask them to describe their approach to the divorce process. Each lawyer you speak to should have a slightly different answer to this. ...
  2. Ask about communication. How will they check in with you throughout the process? ...
  3. Ask how you’ll be able to monitor the status of your case. Many lawyers are incorporating technology into their practices – which is a good thing for you. ...
  4. After you lay out your case, ask where they see things potentially going off track. This is a good chance to get help thinking ten steps ahead. ...
  5. Talk about payment.

Ten Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney
  • Do you specialize in divorces, or are divorces just a part of your practice? ...
  • What is your strategy for my case? ...
  • How long do you take to return phone calls? ...
  • Will anyone else in your office be working on my case? ...
  • How will you charge me?

Full Answer

What you should know before contacting a divorce attorney?

This guide on questions to ask a divorce attorney is comprehensive. We focused the guide on questions to ask about your case. We did not get into the attorney's background. We assumed you conducted enough due diligence to ensure you …

How to evaluate a good divorce attorney?

Aug 30, 2021 · Below, we include seven of the key questions to ask your divorce lawyer during your first meeting. 1. How Will We Communicate Throughout the Case? One of the questions to ask a divorce attorney on the first visit is about how you will communicate throughout your case. Being able to communicate regularly with your attorney is essential to a successful case.

What to look for in a good divorce attorney?

Jan 14, 2021 · Ask your lawyer how they’ve helped clients reach an acceptable outcome when they’ve worked in similar situations in the past. This article, This is why you need a strategy for your divorce, might also help prepare you for this conversation. 2. Ask about communication.

What qualities make a good divorce attorney?

Below, we include seven of the key questions to ask your divorce lawyer during your first gear meet . Get Help now. 1. How Will We Communicate Throughout the Case? One of the questions to ask a divorce lawyer on the first visit is about how you will communicate throughout your encase.

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Where is Lauren Taylor?

South Carolina divorce attorney Lauren Taylor practices family law in Charleston and Greenville. She graduated from the Charlotte School of Law, and has been practicing for more than ten years.

Can a divorce cost more than amicable?

A high-conflict divorce can cost significantly more than an amicable divorce. To increase the costs, a spouse may disagree on child custody, child support, alimony and the division of debts and assets.

What is the goal of hiring an attorney?

For many women, the ‘goal’ of hiring an attorney may simply be “get me outta this marriage!” But honing in on what you want your life to look like after the divorce dust has settled can be a useful tool for identifying how you want to work through the process of ending your marriage.

Is it a good idea to talk to a lawyer about divorce?

If you’ve made up your mind and there’s no alternative but divorce, talking to at least a few lawyers is always a good idea. The first consultation is usually always free, so you’ve got nothing to lose. But, you can gain a lot of information during attorney interviews if you head into the conversation armed with the right questions.

Can you represent yourself in divorce?

Most states allow individuals to represent themselves in the divorce process. And, it’s more common than you think: 80 percent of divorces involve at least one party representing themselves. Lots of people go this route – which means you can, too.

What to discuss with a divorce lawyer?

During your first meeting with a lawyer, you can discuss potential strategies to better manage the cost of a divorce. Of course, the cost does not all depend on you or your lawyer – your spouse and his or her lawyer will play a big role in the ultimate cost. 3.

Is divorce difficult?

Divorces are difficult even in the best of circumstances. Every divorce is very different, and the timing and difficulty of the process will depend on the issues that the parties need to resolve and the level of cooperation between the parties. However, most divorces follow a similar process.

What is the process of filing for divorce?

The process includes filing for divorce, serving or notifying the other party, gathering information, possible temporary orders to address child custody, support and managing assets during the divorce, and some form of resolution through either a settlement agreement or a court hearing.

Main Issues to Discuss with Your Divorce Attorney

The checklists below, organized into general categories, can give you an idea of what documents you'll need to gather as well as issues to discuss with your divorce attorney.

Get Legal Help with Your Divorce

The legal issues involved in a divorce are numerous and complex, which is why it can be daunting to go through a divorce without legal representation. Contact a local divorce attorney who can answer any questions and help guide you through the divorce process.

How to prepare for alimony?

Alimony is a numbers game. Sometimes the best way to prepare and present the back alimony case is to play the numbers game using experts. For example, forensic accounting experts and vocational rehabilitative experts can help support or defend an alimony claim.

Who wrote the book "Getting to Yes"?

Have you read “Getting to Yes”? “Getting to Yes,” a book by the authors of the Harvard Negotiation Project, is considered the authority on principled settlement. These guys originated the concept of win-win, later made famous by Stephen Covey and his “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”.

Do cases go to litigation?

The reality is certain cases must go to litigation in order to get the right result. You are vetting not just the transactional experience of your family law attorney, but also their ability to litigate if and when it is required.

Is divorce easy?

Divorce is not easy , and the vast majority of the people that we consult with are not emotionally ready to pull the trigger. Often a driving force is that there are assets, other financial obligations, or even relationships with children that need to be protected, and the jurisdiction of the court needs to be invoked.

Is Florida a legal separation state?

While Florida doesn’t exactly call it a legal separation, the state does offer an alternative for two parties to divide assets and to provide support to one another even without filing a divorce. The separate maintenance actions can give rise to what is in effect a legal separation in Florida.

Is child support based on a formula?

Child support is based on a formula in Florida . But often we have a difficult time getting to a child support number. That’s because while the formula might be straightforward, sometimes finding out the numbers to put into the formula is anything but. My spouse has a business and lies about his income to the IRS.

Why do you need one point of contact when you are going through divorce?

Having one point of contact can make things so much easier .

How many people in the UK don't have a will?

With around 30 million adults in the UK not having a will in place, this is an important question to ask. Often people want to make a new will when they separate. While they are still married, their spouse can have claims on their estate, even if they’re separated.

Is it easy to file for divorce?

Making the decision to file for divorce is never easy. We understand how daunting it can feel to have to approach a divorce lawyer to discuss formally ending your marriage. That’s why we’ve put together this list of 31 questions to ask your divorce lawyer.

Why do you choose a divorce lawyer?

If you choose a your divorce lawyer because you think they’ll do a good job based on your initial meeting, you’ll probably want to make sure it’s them you’ll actually be dealing with as your case progresses rather than another partner or member of the firm.

Should cost be a factor in choosing a divorce lawyer?

While cost shouldn’t be the overall deciding factor when choosing a divorce lawyer, it is important for you to get an idea of likely costs in advance so you can budget accordingly.

Why did two women win a Supreme Court case?

There was a high profile case in the news recently where two women won a Supreme Court fight on the basis that their ex-husbands hadn’t declared their true worth at the time of divorce.

Is divorce beneficial?

There’s no hard and fast rule on this. In some divorce cases it can be beneficial, while in others it can be detrimental to the process . Your lawyer will be able to give you an answer based on your circumstances and their experience.

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