what to ask a lawyer about divorce

21 Questions To Ask a Divorce Lawyer During Your First Visit

1. How Much Experience Do You Have In Divorce And Is It Your Specialty? Experience counts. Oftentimes, a lawyer’s or law...
2. What Is The Divorce Process Like? You’ll want to ask what you and your spouse will go through in the divorce process.
3. How Do You Think The Judge Will Rule In My Divorce Case? If you...

Full Answer

What are good questions to ask a divorce attorney?

Nov 23, 2021 · 21 Questions To Ask a Divorce Lawyer During Your First Visit 1. How Much Experience Do You Have In Divorce And Is It Your Specialty? Experience counts. Oftentimes, a lawyer’s or law... 2. What Is The Divorce Process Like? You’ll want to ask what you and your spouse will go through in the divorce ...

What you should know before contacting a divorce attorney?

As you continue to read this article on questions to ask a divorce attorney, we wanted you to know the attorneys at our premier family law firm are a phone call or online inquiry away. Click below if you want to call us. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.

How to know if a divorce lawyer is good?

Mar 22, 2021 · 1. What Is the Process? It helps first to understand what to expect. Ask questions about what the process is in the... 2. Is the Attorney a Family Law Specialist? Many attorneys are general practitioners and handle various legal subjects,... 3. How Much Will This Cost? This question is a tricky one ...

What should you look for in a divorce attorney?

Your divorce lawyer will need to be brought up to speed on your employment status and on your spouse’s employment status. Specifically, you can expect that your lawyer will ask the following: Where do you currently work? What is your job title? Where does your spouse work, and what is his or her job title? How much money do you make?

What should I ask for in a divorce settlement?

Things to ask for in a divorce: house or the proceeds of a saleWhat happens when you divorce and you own a home together? ... Who is entitled to the house in a divorce? ... How is a house split in a divorce? ... Can a house sale be forced in divorce? ... Equal parenting time—no child support. ... Co-parenting mandates.More items...•Aug 16, 2019

What questions should I ask my 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...•Jan 29, 2017

What to ask yourself before getting divorced?

Questions to Ask Yourself Before You DivorceWhat Has Gotten You to the Point Where Divorce Is the Option?What Have You Done to Try to Fix the Problems?What Will the Impact Be on Your Children?What Were the Best Times in Your Relationship?Sep 21, 2020

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...•Apr 13, 2018

How do I prepare for an attorney meeting?

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 you know it's time for a divorce?

10 Signs That It's Time to DivorceYou No Longer Communicate with Your Spouse. ... Your Marriage Lacks Intimacy. ... One Spouse Is Causing Financial Hardship. ... The Relationship Isn't a Top Priority. ... You Aren't Willing to Argue with Your Spouse. ... Opinions Concerning Children Greatly Differ. ... You Don't Feel Respected by Your Partner.More items...•Apr 23, 2021

Is it time to end my marriage?

Frequently Feeling Angry with Your Spouse Ongoing anger in a marriage may be related to external or internal issues. If this type of anger is not resolved, it can ruin a marriage. In situations in which constant anger turns into physical or emotional abuse, it is time for you to end your marriage.Dec 7, 2019

How much does a divorce cost?

The median cost of a divorce is $7,500. An uncontested divorce or one with no major contested issues costs, on average, $4,100. Disputes over child support, child custody, and alimony raise the average cost of a divorce significantly. Divorces that go to trial on two or more issues cost, on average, $23,300.Nov 16, 2020

What to do if you are unsure about a divorce?

splitting debts. If you’re unsure about whether you have a contested or uncontested divorce, ask your divorce lawyer. If there are small things that you can figure out on your own with your spouse, you should. Your attorney will be able to point out what things you need to negotiate with your spouse on.

Why is it important to prepare for divorce?

When you prepare for a divorce, it makes everything easier. Your cost of divorce will be lower. Your divorce process will be faster. Your divorce will even be easier when you prepare for divorce before you file for divorce. Your divorce lawyer will give you a list of things that you need to prepare.

How much does a retainer cost for divorce?

A retainer fee usually covers half of the estimated total cost of divorce. Meaning, if your divorce lawyer thinks it will cost $10,000 to handle your divorce, the retainer fee might be $5,000. This is not a hard and fast rule, but just an example. The point is that your retainer fee is going to run out.

Does it matter who files for divorce first?

If you have been served divorce papers already, then that answers the question for you. If you’re going to have an uncontested divorce, it doesn’t matter who files for divorce first. But if you’re going to have a contested divorce, it does matter. You want to have time to prepare for divorce.

What is the purpose of mediation in divorce?

Divorce mediations help couples reach an agreement on their disputes without going to trial. When you go through divorce mediation, you have the final say. When you go to trial, the judge has the final say on how to settle. If you need divorce mediation, ask your divorce lawyer for a divorce mediation checklist.

Is a divorce lawyer a good fit?

Not every divorce lawyer is going to be a good fit for you. Don’t let a divorce lawyer be pushy in your free consultation. Pick the one that best suits you and your desired outcomes. When you file for divorce, your attorney has to juggle many types of law.

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.

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.

What are my legal options?

Just because you’re consulting with a divorce lawyer doesn’t mean that divorce is the only potential outcome of your case. Your lawyer will review the options available — including a trial separation, a legal separation, and divorce, and explain the similarities and differences between each of these paths forward.

When and how will we communicate with each other?

Your divorce attorney will discuss with you the whens and hows of attorney-client communication. If you’d like regular updates on your case, you can ask your attorney if this is something they’ll provide; if you’d prefer to speak to your attorney only when there’s been a new development, this is also something that can be accommodated.

What rates and fees do you charge?

Most divorce lawyers offer an initial consultation at a reduced fee (or no fee) — you’ll begin to pay only once you sign a retainer agreement. Your first meeting provides you the opportunity to ask your divorce lawyer what fees and rates they charge and negotiate the scope of the representation.

What can I tell my spouse?

Once you’ve begun divorce proceedings, your communications with your spouse may (and should be) more constrained, even if you’re living in the same home.

What results can I expect?

Any attorney who promises you that you’ll achieve a specific outcome is one to avoid — it’s all but impossible to predict the outcome of any specific case. However, your attorney can lay out the various possibilities and indicate their opinion as to which outcome may be the most likely.

Should I move out of the house? Can I kick my spouse out?

Once divorce is on the table, spouses rarely want to continue to live under the same roof. However, the question of which spouse should move out is often a complicated one, particularly if both spouses’ incomes are needed to make the mortgage payment.

Who will work on my case and make court appearances on my case?

Unless your appointment is with a solo practitioner, it’s possible that more than one attorney will work on your case — and you may also be represented in court by more than one attorney. This type of collaborative work can benefit you, as having more eyes on a file (and more perspectives to offer) can be valuable.

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 ...

Can you move right away?

Whether you’ll move or not will depend entirely on you , nonetheless, there are situations where your legal representative will advise you to either stay or move since it can influence your entire case. For example, in the cases of emotional or physical abuse, false allegations of violence, and so on, your attorney will probably tell you to move right away.

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.