what questions should you ask when meeting with a divorce lawyer?

^{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.

What qualities make a good divorce attorney?

• Understanding of Family Law: First and foremost a Divorce attorney should be through with laws concerning divorce which are a) Hindu Marriage Act, 1955; b) Hindu adoption and Maintenance Act ...
• ANALYTICAL AND RESEARCH SKILLS: Preparing a legal strategy is complicated. Each case involves a large volume of facts and records. ...
• DEDICAT

How do I know if my divorce lawyer is good?

Here is a list of the 9 things you should never do during a divorce:

1. Don’t forget to consult an attorney. A lawyer can make sure that you both review and understand anything before you sign or agree. ...
2. Don’t neglect your finances. If you’re thinking about divorce, you need to immediately begin to set aside money for the all the expenses involved. ...
3. Don’t immediately tell everyone you are getting a divorce. ...

More items...

What should you look for in a divorce attorney?

• Financial negotiations
• Real estate
• Trauma from domestic violence
• Child school and education issues
• Child Support and custody
• Alimony (spousal support)

What does it take to become a divorce lawyer?

Becoming a divorce lawyer takes seven years of formal higher education, including a four-year bachelor’s degree and a three-year law degree. Read on to learn more about required education, skills and career statistics. Is becoming a lawyer difficult? 1. The challenging years of law school. The process of becoming a lawyer isn’t for the ...

What should a woman ask for in a divorce settlement?

A detailed parenting-time schedule—including holidays! It's in your best interest, and more importantly in the best interest of the children, that you have a detailed schedule in an attempt to avoid issues down the road. This parenting-time schedule is an extremely important thing to ask for in a divorce settlement.

What to prepare before asking for a divorce?

Top 10 Things to Do Before You File For a DivorceNever Threaten to Divorce Until You Are Ready To File. ... Organize Your Documents. ... Focus on Your Children. ... Make Sure You Have Three Months of Financial Resources. ... Obtain the Best Legal Advice You Can Get. ... Make Sure You Have Available Credit.More items...

What questions should I ask a lawyer about seeking help?

Questions you might ask your lawyerDo I have a problem that can be resolved by law?What legal risks am I facing?What documents do I need to support my case?Do I need statements from witnesses?What are my options for resolving the dispute out of court?How can I settle the case?More items...

How do you prepare to talk to a lawyer?

Tips for Talking to an AttorneyAlways be as honest and candid as possible about the facts of your case. ... Ask questions if you don't understand something that your attorney mentions or explains to you.Approach an attorney about your case as soon as you think you may need one.More items...•

How does a woman protect herself in a divorce?

Gather evidence of a husband's misbehavior or abusive actions. Stay safe and protect your children. Update paperwork and beneficiary designations after divorce. Ensure that your future is protected before you finalize a divorce settlement.

How do I protect myself financially in a divorce?

How to Financially Protect Yourself in a DivorceLegally establish the separation/divorce.Get a copy of your credit report and monitor activity.Separate debt to financially protect your assets.Move half of joint bank balances to a separate account.Comb through your assets.Conduct a cash flow analysis.More items...•

What is the hardest question to ask a lawyer?

12 Tough Questions to Ask a LawyerWhat's your opinion of the probate process?Under what conditions do you recommend a Living Trust?How do I protect my children from abusive relatives if something happens to me?Can I keep my kids from controlling their entire inheritance at 18?More items...•

What are some questions you should ask a lawyer?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...•

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•

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.

What do you wear to meet with a lawyer?

The standard attire for meeting with you lawyer should be business casual. Wear dress pants, a nice shirt or top. Women should wear a conservative dress or skirt. Nothing too revealing.

How do I prepare for my first meeting with a lawyer?

Tips For Meeting With Your Lawyer For the First TimeDress To Impress. ... Be Ready To Give Your Attorney Important Information About Yourself. ... Gather Your Evidence And Have It Ready For Your First Meeting. ... Get Your Facts Straight. ... Plan Something You Can Look Forward To For After Your Meeting.

How do I prepare to leave my husband?

What to do before leaving your spouseYou need to be prepared.1) Consult with a lawyer.2) Prepare yourself financially.3) Consider all your housing options.4) Think about your children, if the separation involves them.5) Gather important documents.6) Find emotional support.

How do I know if Im ready for divorce?

Additional signs of an unhappy marriage Other signs you are ready for a divorce include: A lack of intimacy. If you're not able to romantically enjoy your spouse and you've tried to explore why the romance isn't working – then it may be time to think about speaking with a divorce lawyer. You don't respect your spouse.

Does it make a difference who files for divorce first?

Filing for divorce first does not give you any inherent rights over your spouse. One benefit is that if the specific facts of your case warrant, you could have a choice of which county—and sometimes which state — to file the paperwork in. To be clear, you cannot just file in any ol' location.

How do you avoid getting screwed in a divorce?

Sign up for National Breaking News AlertsDig into your spouse's business. ... Protect your flanks. ... Nail down any money you brought to the marriage. ... Go after the pension and retirement accounts. ... Don't expect permanent alimony. ... Fight for health benefits, when you don't have your own group plan.More items...•

Is divorce a stressful time?

Few events in life can be as stressful and traumatic as a divorce. Along with riding an emotional roller coaster, you face significant legal and family consequences. During a divorce, it is essential to have an experienced divorce lawyer who can help you navigate this uncertain time and achieve the outcome you deserve.

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.

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.

What is single pot divorce?

Divorce cases are ”single pot” cases, where the monies spent on the case can correspondingly lead to a decrease in money available for the parties. Cost-benefit analysis is required at every stage of the game.

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.

1- Do you know my partner in any way?

The last thing you want happening is your lawyer not performing to their bests due to emotional attachments with your spouse.

2- How many divorce cases were you able to settle without court proceedings?

Taking divorce cases to court only prolongs it unnecessarily. Most times, the only effect of taking a divorce to court is elevated fees.

3- How many divorce cases have you handled?

The divorce attorney is offering a service. Most service providers don’t get it right at the first attempt. While they get better over time, you don’t want to be a source of experience to the lawyer.

4- Will another lawyer be taking up my case at any point in time?

After conducting tons of research and asking tens of questions, you’ve decided to settle on a divorce lawyer.

5- Can I access all of my documents at will?

Your documents are all yours, and there are no reasons why your attorney should be keeping them away from you. A typical answer to this question should be a resounding yes.

6- Are there any hidden costs?

Most times, you may have to pay extra costs if the divorce process meets a specific condition.

7- What are the available means of communication?

Good divorce lawyers are excellent communicators. They must be available to answer your questions at any time while reaching you for information if need be.

How long do you have to wait to hire a lawyer?

Now, you might need to hire a lawyer immediately if your spouse has already filed for a divorce, however, if you are the one thinking about filing it, you could wait for several days, weeks, or months before making a decision. If you want to hire a specific attorney, they’ll ...

Is divorce stressful?

The entire process of getting a divorce is stressful, complex, and extremely difficult for all parties involved. However, by talking to your lawyer and asking them the aforementioned questions, they’ll be able to explain what you’ll have to expect during the process, as well as how it will look like.

Is divorce expensive?

You probably already know that the entire process of getting a divorce is expensive, which is why most people worry about their finances. The expenses you’ll have will depend on a wide range of things including how complex your case is, whether there is custody of the kids involved, as well as how well you can work with your spouse during the divorce.

Is it stressful to get divorced?

Getting a divorce is always extremely stressful for everyone involved, and the situation gets even more serious and daunting when there are children involved. So, if you are feeling uncertainty and denial as you prepare to meet with your divorce lawyer for the very first time, know that it is not unusual and that it happens to everyone.

Why is it important to ask an attorney about a complaint?

One of the biggest complaints lawyers get is that their clients feel that they often don’t know what is happening with their case. That is why it is important that you find an attorney you will feel comfortable communicating with. Here are some of the most important questions to ask your attorney when you meet for the first time: 1.

What to do if you have a negative feeling about your spouse?

Even if you have negative feelings about your spouse, it is better to try to deal with those issues on your own instead of fighting them out. Your attorney will work to help you get a fair settlement and protect your interests while you work on moving forward with your life after your divorce.

What is the discovery and disclosure phase?

You will have to go through a discovery and disclosure phase, where you have to find and turn in all your personal financial documents, such as tax returns and bank statements. You may also have to answer questions related to your personal life. Hopefully, you can work out an agreement and avoid court intervention.

What happens when you are amicable in a divorce?

When parties are ethical and open about their financial worth during an amicable divorce, each party will know what debts and assets that the other party has. During a contested divorce, some parties may try to hide their assets. Financial professionals may be needed to track down hidden assets.

Does Arizona require spousal support?

Arizona is one of the states that provides for spousal maintenance under certain circumstances after a divorce. If both parties worked during the marriage and are ending the marriage more or less equally situated, alimony is probably not appropriate but the topic should still be addressed with your attorney.

Can an attorney see you when you are not at your best?

Your attorney may end up seeing you when you’re not at your best, which is alright if you have a good attorney-client relationship. Experienced family law attorneys understand how difficult divorce is and will help you see past your immediate problems so you can envision yourself moving on and starting over again.

Can you have a trial after a judge orders a reconsideration?

Hopefully, you can work out an agreement and avoid court intervention. If not, you may have to have a trial to protect your interests. After the judge enters their final orders, it may be appropriate to file some motions to reconsider or an appeal in your case but that will be discussed with your attorney at that time.

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.

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.

Can juggling work and divorce take its toll?

Juggling work, a family and a divorce can really takes its toll on people. If you’d prefer to work remotely with your lawyer, this is a question worth asking at your initial meeting. 21.

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.

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.

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.