what questions should i ask divorce attorney

What you should know before contacting a divorce attorney?

What questions should you ask a divorce attorney when you meet for the first time? The answer is in this guide as we give you over 50 questions to ask and the answers you should expect. We divided this guide into categories. This will help you navigate this guide and, if you wish, go to specific categories rather than read the entire guide from ...

What qualities make a good divorce attorney?

Nov 11, 2018 · What is your hourly rate and retainer fee? Will there be other costs associated with my case, such as charges for private investigators, physicians, psychologists, etc.? How might spousal support ( alimony ), child support, and parental responsibility be ordered in my case? How will our property and assets be divided? Do you encourage mediation?

How to evaluate a good divorce attorney?

Sep 08, 2021 · Here are some important questions to ask your divorce attorney during the initial consultation: How many years of experience do you have? Experienced family law and divorce attorneys will have more insight and knowledge about the divorce process and how to leverage that experience to achieve your goals in the case.

Is a divorce attorney really the answer?

A divorce lawyer is no different. While you don’t need to choose the first lawyer you consult with, you want to make sure you’re seeking out true, professional divorce attorneys and that you’re prepared to ask your divorce lawyer questions so that the process is as efficient as possible. Making the Right Choice

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.

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.

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.

Does California have spousal support?

Temporary spousal support in California is also governed by the same computer program that determines child support. And most family law cases that involve W-2 wage earners or income that isn't difficult to calculate can result in relatively easy temporary spousal support determinations. While the marital lifestyle and the status quo does have some relevance to the temporary spousal support order, reliance on the computer-generated programs is common and most often used by judges in standard divorce cases that don't merit a deviation.

Can a W-2 give you child support?

Child support is one of the few areas of law that can be clear so long as there isn't a significant dispute in the income of the parents. If you and your spouse are W-2 wage earners, there's no reason the lawyer with whom you consult cannot at least give you a range of potential child-support orders. While the timeshare and visitation schedule with the children will affect child support, the numbers can be calculated with those variations in mind.

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.

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.”.

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.

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.

Here are the top fifteen interview questions to ask a divorce attorney

There are many different questions to ask a divorce lawyer. You should always interview several divorce lawyers before choosing one, and bring some questions with you to your first meeting. This guide will help.

Here are the top fifteen interview questions to ask a divorce lawyer

What areas of law do you practice? This will ensure the lawyer actually specializes in divorce and family law. Lawyers that practice in multiple areas of the law probably do not have the requisite expertise you need.