what are important questions to ask my divorce attorney

by Tressa Parisian 9 min read

Below are the five most important questions to ask your divorce lawyer during your first visit:

  1. What Do You Need to Know About Me? It can be difficult to know where to begin as you discuss your marriage and your...
  2. What Can I Expect From the Divorce Process? Most people do not think about the divorce process until matters at home...
  3. What Is My Next Step?

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 is an important question for two reasons. First, it will test the divorce attorney's knowledge and experience of the divorce process and divorce law. Second, it will educate you on what specifically the attorney can and will do with you to help mitigate the costs. Do not settle for a generic answer.

What qualities make a good divorce attorney?

Questions To Ask Your Divorce Attorney How do you work with clients and what is your overall style or method to handling divorce? Will you be handling my case yourself? Or will another attorney in your office handle it? If another attorney, ask to speak to that person directly. How much experience do you have handling divorces like mine?

How to evaluate a good divorce attorney?

You should also ask about paralegals and others who may work on your divorce. Who do I contact after hours if I have questions? Your questions do not always come up during normal business hours. Most firms who offer the services of a divorce attorney will have someone available off hours to help address any concerns you may have or in the event an emergency situation arises.

Is a divorce attorney really the answer?

Jan 14, 2021 · What questions is the lawyer asking you about your situation? This question is your chance to 1) make sure they’ve been hearing you and 2) get insights that could help keep your divorce process moving along without surprises. 5. Talk about payment. This question is especially important if you’re concerned about your financial situation.

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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.

1. What Do You Need to Know About Me?

It can be difficult to know where to begin as you discuss your marriage and your desire for a divorce. Therefore, ask the attorney what information you need to share. Then, the lawyer can guide you through the process of telling your story and identifying the issues you want to address during this first meeting.

2. What Can I Expect From the Divorce Process?

Most people do not think about the divorce process until matters at home become unbearable. Therefore, it is common to have many questions regarding how you obtain a divorce in Florida.

3. What Are Ways I Can Reduce the Cost of Divorce?

Many people assume that it is expensive to file for divorce. However, there are ways that you can reduce the cost of a divorce.

4. What Are My Rights Regarding the Basic Elements of a Divorce?

Understanding your legal rights also helps relieve some of the stress you might feel as you begin the divorce process.

5. What Is My Next Step?

After you discuss the above questions, your last question addresses what to do next. If you are ready to pursue a divorce, the lawyer explains the attorneys’ fees and cost of retaining the law firm.

Obtaining Information is the First Step in Protecting Your Best Interests

Meeting with a divorce lawyer does not mean that you must file for divorce. However, knowledge is power. Obtaining answers to your questions and learning about your legal rights is the best way to protect your best interests and the best interests of your children.

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.

What is a good deal in a case?

Even if your case does not step foot in a courtroom, it’s good to have an understanding of how the law works to get a basic idea of what is a good deal in your case. Of course, a good deal also accounts for subjective things like your particular needs or your spouse’s particular needs.

What is the greatest tragedy in divorce cases?

The greatest tragedy in divorce cases is when a custody battle spirals out of control for months or even years. The attorneys have a lot of say in controlling or mitigating some of the emotional responses in these cases and keeping things under control.

How to know if you're getting a reasonable deal?

This requires a lot of trust, so the best thing you can do is check the attorney out thoroughly at the beginning of the process, so you understand how you guys will work together.

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.

Can an attorney handle a high conflict case?

It’s just the stark reality of life that no attorney can handle a caseload that is 100% high-conflict. High-conflict cases tend to take up a disproportionate amount of time, energy, and emotional resources.

Is collaborative training good for a lawyer?

Similar to the question above, it can be helpful to have an attorney who has collaborative training under their belt, even if your case is not a collaborative one. Collaborative training is built on principled negotiation or the concept of not digging a line in the sand or taking a position that can’t be moved.

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