reason why my lawyer would need to contact my ex spouse previous lawyer

They should be able to figure out what you need to do and if there is something they need from your prior lawyer they will get it from your prior lawyer. If you no longer have a business relationship with your prior lawyer, there really isn't any reason to contact them, except if you need something from the old case file.

Full Answer

Can I contact my spouse through an attorney?

Although open communication lines are good, sometimes it’s advisable for spouses to only communicate through an attorney. Specifically, if there’s been any history of domestic violence, don’t contact your spouse directly. Be aware that if a protective or no contact order is in place,...

Should my spouse hire a lawyer before I do?

First, you want to meet with the most competent and experienced attorneys before your spouse does, which prevents them from hiring a great fit first. If your spouse meets with an attorney first, it could create a conflict of interest that would not allow them to represent you.

How can an attorney help my difficult spouse?

An attorney can communicate on a spouse’s behalf in cases where a protective order is in place. Attorneys can also help you contact a difficult spouse or their attorney.

Why does my attorney say he is not in the office?

That could be because they are working on someone else's case, or maybe because they think you talk too much and keep them on the phone too long. But having a receptionist tell clients that their attorney is "not in the office" or "unavailable" is exceedingly common.

Do lawyers have to talk to each other?

California Rule of Professional Conduct 2-100(A) prohibits a lawyer from communicating about a matter with a party known to be represented by a lawyer without the prior consent of that lawyer. Rule 2-100 defines “party” broadly.

Can lawyers talk about their cases with other lawyers?

The attorney-client privilege is, strictly speaking, a rule of evidence. It prevents lawyers from testifying about, and from being forced to testify about, their clients' statements. Independent of that privilege, lawyers also owe their clients a duty of confidentiality.

Why would a lawyer have a conflict of interest?

[8] Even where there is no direct adverseness, a conflict of interest exists if there is a significant risk that a lawyer's ability to consider, recommend or carry out an appropriate course of action for the client will be materially limited as a result of the lawyer's other responsibilities or interests.

How do I know if my lawyer is cheating on a settlement?

Dennis BeaverThe attorney does not return phone calls in a reasonable amount of time, and;In a meeting with the client, if the lawyer is being very short, taking phone calls, trying to re-schedule, not giving enough time to the client, does not listen, ignores what is asked or is not answering questions.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

Five things not to say to a lawyer (if you want them to take you..."The Judge is biased against me" Is it possible that the Judge is "biased" against you? ... "Everyone is out to get me" ... "It's the principle that counts" ... "I don't have the money to pay you" ... Waiting until after the fact.

Can lawyers talk about cases with their spouses?

Under attorney-client privilege, lawyers are not allowed to divulge the details of anything their clients tell them in a court of law. In addition to that, The Duty of Confidentiality protects clients from having their lawyers casually discuss the private details of their case outside of court.

What are some examples of conflicts of interest?

Examples of Conflicts of Interest At WorkHiring an unqualified relative to provide services your company needs.Starting a company that provides services similar to your full-time employer.Failing to disclose that you're related to a job candidate the company is considering hiring.More items...

What qualifies as a conflict of interest?

What is a Conflict of Interest? A conflict of interest occurs when an individual's personal interests – family, friendships, financial, or social factors – could compromise his or her judgment, decisions, or actions in the workplace. Government agencies take conflicts of interest so seriously that they are regulated.

What are the two major causes of conflict of interest in law?

There are two different sets of circumstances which may constitute a concurrent conflict of interest. One is when the representation of one client would be directly adverse to the other client. [4] This occurs when the interests of one client requires the lawyer to act against the interest of his other client.

Why do lawyers drag out cases?

Their goal is to drag the case on and pay out as little as possible. This earns more money for the attorney, who gets paid by the hour, and also can help frustrate the plaintiff into making a better settlement for them out of desperation.

How do you know if a lawyer is scamming you?

How To Avoid Legal Representation ScamsPayment needs to happen quickly. You can't ask questions or get clarification.It's an emergency. Someone may threaten you or your loved ones.Requests for money usually happen over text, email or phone.The person contacting you is not someone you recognize.

Do lawyers cheat their clients?

Yes, some lawyers lie, cheat and deceive their clients. But they are the exception, and an embarrassment to most lawyers.

Can you hire the same attorney for divorce?

While it is common and even preferable for a divorcing couple to utilize the same attorney in mediation, there are clear guidelines that generally prevent one spouse from hiring the other spouse’s former attorney in a trial divorce case.

Can a lawyer represent my spouse in divorce?

Therefore, the RPC code of the ABA clearly lays out that a lawyer cannot represent your spouse in your divorce case, not only if he or she has represented you, but also if the lawyer’s current or previous firm has represented you in this case.

What to do if your ex won't answer the phone?

As parents they should communicate directly if they can, but bad communication is worse than no communication. If she won't answer the phone, send a very brief, very polite email or text message using the word "please" at least twice and asking for a reply. If you are over 140 characters, you are talking too much. It is my legal right does not mean the same thing as this is a smart thing to do.

Can a lawyer communicate with a lawyer?

That is not correct. The parties are still "allowed" to communicate with each other. But, if the party with a lawyer refuses to communicate directly and insists that all communication be done through their attorney, they have that right. If both parties have attorneys, the ATTORNEYS are not allowed to communicate directly with the other party, without the express consent of the other party's attorney.

Can a non-represented party speak to an attorney?

The parties can always communicate directly. There is no requirement that the non-represented party speak with the attorney. The prohibition on communication is on an attorney who cannot communicate directly with a represented party, unless given permission to do so by the person's attorney.

Can you communicate directly with an attorney?

The parties can continue to communicate directly with one another. The party with the attorney may be advised by his or her attorney to not communicate (or they may not want to), but there is nothing prohibiting such communication.

What happens if you violate a no contact order?

A spouse who violates a no contact order by calling, texting, emailing, approaching or stalking the victim spouse may face jail time. An attorney can communicate on a spouse’s behalf in cases where a protective order is in place.

Can you record a phone conversation with your spouse?

Those communications may become useful in your case. Avoid recording telephone conversations with your spouse. If you haven ’t told your spouse that the call is being recorded, it may not be admissible in court. In rare circumstances, your attorney may suggest video recording an interaction.

Can you use foul language in court?

Moreover, foul language and threats may later be used against you in court . It’s important to be on your best behavior when contacting your spouse. However, it’s important to reach out to your spouse immediately if you have an urgent question or need to discuss details for picking up or dropping off a child.

What to do if your ex has legal questions?

If your ex has legal questions, they should seek counsel. So should you, even if you just want a 30-minute gut check with a (California) lawyer. Divorce is the separation of the most complicated financial and emotional contract either of you has likely ever entered into.

Is a mediator more affordable than a lawyer?

A mediator is a far more affordable option than both of you hiring attorneys, and the mediator will be able to answer both of your legal questions as they help you through the paperwork. Start booking your own interview calls with lawyers. Having more information is always a good thing.

What are some secrets that a divorce lawyer may not want to share with you?

Below are twenty secrets that a divorce lawyer may not want to share with you. 1. It's going to cost more than you bargained for. It's not always the case—but more often than not, the costs associated with your divorce will often be higher than your lawyer's original estimate.

How to choose a divorce attorney?

There are several things to look for when choosing a divorce attorney. You want to choose someone who is experienced, respected, competent, and affordable. If they are proving to not be a good fit though, change them. Because you can, even if the reason is that you don't get on with him or her. Bear in mind however that if an attorney has worked on your case, you'll have to pay her/him for their time. Also, it might damage your case to change attorney's when you are close to a court ordered deadline, so only do it after careful consideration.

How do divorce lawyers save money?

That you'll save money and heartache by being organized. Divorce lawyers often charge by the hour. If you take responsibility for being as organized as possible, not only are you likely to walk away from your marriage with a more acceptable outcome, you'll probably save some money too.

What is mediation in divorce?

Mediation is a process whereby you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third party to negotiate several important areas of divorce. It's a low-cost way to address practically any other disagreement you and your spouse may have. While the mediator's decision is not binding, it allows a neutral party to provide their perspective on how divorce related issues should be addressed. However, mediation can only be a useful tool if you and your spouse can come to an broad agreement.

What does it mean to be uncontested in divorce?

An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree child custody, spousal support, child support, visitation, and division of property. If you find that there is no need to fight over these things, you've already saved yourself thousands of dollars.

How to start a divorce?

One of the best and simplest ways to do that is to start a divorce file. In this file, keep every bit of paper that could have an effect on how your divorce proceedings. Gather copies of all important financial documents and access to all account information. Keep it organized and easy to navigate.

Can a divorce lawyer tell you that you can come to a full agreement?

"Divorce lawyers won't tell you that you can come to a full agreement in your case at any time," says divorce attorney Russell D. Knight. Instead, they would prefer to engage in the lengthy process of "discovery"—tallying debts and assets—before drawing up the final documents.

When should an attorney contact you?

Your attorney will contact you when he/she needs something from you. There are periods in every case where nothing is going on and there is down time. Your attorney should give you periodic updates on the status of things and it's ok to check in yourself, but daily calls are unnecessary and only run up your bill.

Why do divorce attorneys work hard?

Divorce attorneys work hard to achieve favorable and fair results for their clients. Good clients appreciate the effort, even if things don't always work out the way they hoped. Many clients are never happy, win or lose, and are not afraid to let their attorney know it.

What should an attorney tell you?

Here are five things your attorney really wants to tell you, but doesn't because he wants to maintain the relationship and keep you as a client. You're better off knowing this though because it will influence your relationship with your lawyer and the value he/she provides to you. Advertisement. 1. You call too often.

Why do I get divorced?

If I had to bet, I would say that one of the reasons you are getting divorced, or already divorced is because of conflicts with your spouse over parenting. It's very common and one of the more stressful phases of a divorce.

What happens when you retain a lawyer?

When you retain a lawyer, whether for a divorce or another issue, the lawyer is ethically charged with holding what you say to him/her as confidential.

Do attorneys charge hourly?

Most attorneys charge on an hourly basis, which is stated in your retainer agreement. Clients pay for an attorney's time. Your attorney is not your therapist, although I play one on t.v. I always tell clients I will talk to you as long as you want, but don't be surprised when you get the bill.

Do divorce attorneys get paid?

Attorneys are not free. They get paid for provide you with their time, knowledge and services. Now, it's often the case in a divorce that money is tight and most attorneys are sensitive to this, but they have to pay their bills too and can't work for free. You can't expect them to work for free.

Edward Ian Hecht

What does this mean? It means you need to hire a family law attorney.

John Taylor Hopkins IV

If you do not have a lawyer, then you are your own lawyer, and yes you have to respond to his lawyer regarding the discovery requests they have or are serving on you. Did you counterclaim for contempt? You should strongly reconsider handling this case without a lawyer, you need one, yesterday.

Glen Edward Ashman

Yes. You must answer and things will go badly for you unless you get counsel today.