Before you start a consultation with a divorce lawyer, you may want to consider not only; what questions to ask the lawyer, but also what questions they might ask you. We have put together the following practical questions, that you might ask your lawyer during your divorce consultation. At your first consultation with a divorce lawyer, an experienced divorce lawyer should make you feel like you have answered to almost all of your questions. The purpose of this article is to help you anticipate what questions a divorce lawyer might ask you so you don’t go unanswered and can better prepare for your first divorce meeting or consultation.
During your first meeting, your divorce lawyer will be available to explain the legal process for each of these issues and what you can expect in terms of procedure and timelines.
Ask the questions you need to ask to make sure the lawyer can handle your divorce case.
Hiring The Right Attorney
When you’re getting a divorce and looking for a lawyer, remember that you don’t have to hire the first lawyer you meet. It may be good if your attorney has other attorneys in their law firm who can help you if the case needs to be handled. Understandably, in a contentious divorce, people want to find a lawyer who can aggressively fight for them in court.
If the divorce proceedings result in litigation, many cooperative attorneys will drop their case and let another attorney handle the case. If the parties have reached an agreement on the terms of their divorce, the attorney may work with one of the parties to draft an agreement that reflects those terms and then submit the written agreement to the other unrepresented party for review and consideration. Counsel, an agreement that reflects these terms, neither party may provide the other unrepresented spouse with any legal advice or answer any of their questions about the proposed documents, other than to recommend that if such questions arise, they should contact their lawyer.
Be Ready to Compromise, it Can Save You Time and Money
Divorce proceedings often involve a lot of negotiation and compromise; you may not get everything you want, but your attorney will try to make sure you get what you care about most. If you and your spouse can agree on how the money will be managed and used and how the children will divide their time between their parents during the divorce process, the problems associated with expensive hearings and other legal work will be reduced.
The cost will depend on a number of factors, including how complex your case is, whether there will be disputes over custody of the children, and how cooperative you are with your spouse in the divorce process. This isn’t always the case, but the costs associated with your divorce will usually be higher than your attorney’s initial estimate. Most divorce cases involve a combination of third-party fees, such as “application fees,” court server fees, court reporter fees, and even expert witnesses.
When to Hire an Experienced Attorney
If you are facing a contentious divorce case involving substantial assets, complex financial issues, or a complex custody dispute, you should contact an experienced family law attorney, who has experience in dealing with specific issues related to your case. In some ways, how the lawyer answers the questions we list below will show you how experienced and knowledgeable a divorce lawyer is and if they are right for you. The guide will allow a divorce lawyer to gather the information that will help them better answer your questions.
Your lawyer will need to know if you or your spouse have harmed each other and if your divorce was somehow amicable. Before the meeting, you need to make sure that your lawyer is aware of all the issues that will need to be resolved in a divorce.
You will work closely with your lawyer during the divorce process and will want to make sure your divorce goals align with how your lawyer works. If you keep this in mind, it will help you through this difficult process, pushing you to organize and hire a divorce lawyer who will honestly consider your options and provide a realistic chance of success based on the unique facts of your case. Choosing the right lawyer to help you with your divorce is one of the most important decisions you will make regarding a divorce.
Read: What are the Major Advantages of Hiring a Family Lawyer?
Shop Around for The Best Attorney
Before hiring someone to represent you in a divorce case, you may need to meet with several attorneys to compare fees or learn which one is best for your needs and goals. Most divorce attorneys offer a free initial consultation, during which you can schedule a face-to-face meeting with the attorney. Typically, an experienced divorce attorney will provide you with a lot of information during your initial consultation, but they should also get important information from you that will help you achieve your goals and lead to a positive outcome for your situation, no matter what Is it a divorce, custody, or other family law issues. Sometimes, during these consultations, an attorney will provide you with general information that may be useful to you; however, as with all legal matters, an attorney can only provide specific advice and recommendations after discussing your case with you and reviewing relevant documents.
No lawyer worthy of his weight in gold will guarantee you victory, but an experienced lawyer should be able to tell you if there are grounds for your position and what is likely to happen if your case goes to trial. Regardless of which side you are on, it is wise to find an experienced legal representative. If your divorce is being contested, it’s almost impossible to expect a good outcome without hiring a lawyer. Having to schedule a consultation with a divorce lawyer can leave you thinking about how best to use your time and what questions to ask your divorce
lawyer.