what to ask your lawyer when getting divorced

by Emie Barton 3 min read

The 7 Best Questions to Ask Your Divorce Lawyer

  1. How long will it take to get divorced? Clients are often worried that the divorce process will be drawn out,...
  2. What was the outcome in another case like mine? You might feel like your situation is totally unique, and has special...
  3. What will the ongoing relationship with my ex need to be like? Once you’re...

Full Answer

What are some questions to ask a divorce attorney?

What your divorce lawyer should tell you is what temporary orders make sense in your case. For example, does it make sense to do the following? Should you seek temporary child custody and parenting time orders? Will there be benefit in seeking temporary child support and spousal support orders?

What are the best questions to ask a lawyer?

Apr 08, 2022 ¡ The 7 Best Questions to Ask Your Divorce Lawyer 1. How long will it take to get divorced? Clients are often worried that the divorce process will be drawn out,... 2. What was the outcome in another case like mine? You might feel like your situation is totally unique, and has special... 3. What will ...

What questions should I ask at a divorce consultation?

Oct 29, 2019 · Your divorce lawyer will have an enormous amount of influence on how your divorce goes forward. You should ask your lawyer whether they have experience with the special circumstances in your divorce and learn what he or she will bring to the table. Each divorce attorney also has his or her own philosophy and approach to handling a divorce case. As with …

What questions are asked in divorce court?

Nov 16, 2018 ¡ The Most Important Questions to Ask Your Divorce Lawyer 1. How Do You Charge? Divorce is often expensive, especially if your divorce is contested (you and your spouse are in... 2. Will I Need to Go to Court? Many people wonder whether or not litigation is an inevitable part of the divorce process... ...

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What to ask for during a divorce?

Things to ask for in a divorce: moneyWho is responsible for the debt after divorce?Credit card, tax and personal loan debt.Student loans.Any lawsuits, including bankruptcies.Life insurance policies in divorce settlement.Long-term care insurance in divorce settlement.Wedding and engagement rings in divorce.More items...•Aug 16, 2019

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

How do you start a conversation with a divorce lawyer?

10 things to bring to your initial consultation with a divorce...Prepare your Schedule of Assets and Debts. ... Prepare your Income and Expense Declaration. ... Prepare a list of questions you want to ask the divorce lawyer. ... Tax Returns. ... Self-employment documents. ... List out the relevant facts about your case.More items...•Feb 5, 2017

What are the signs your marriage is over?

7 Signs Your Marriage Is Over, According to ExpertsLack of Sexual Intimacy. In every marriage, sexual desire will change over time. ... Frequently Feeling Angry with Your Spouse. ... Dreading Spending Alone-Time Together. ... Lack of Respect. ... Lack of Trust. ... Disliking Your Spouse. ... Visions of the Future Do Not Include Your Spouse.Dec 7, 2019

How do you know divorce is the right choice?

Negative signs Divorce might be the best choice for you if: there's a pattern of abuse, drug addiction, or repeated infidelity. neither of you is willing to change or adapt to present circumstances. neither of you is able to forgive past wrongs or make amends.Aug 16, 2006

What does a divorce lawyer do?

They deal with matters such as divorce proceedings, adoptions, and child custody. Common tasks include drafting custody agreements, wills, prenuptial agreements, and other documents. While some family lawyers engage in litigation, it is a less prevalent aspect of this practice.

What is collaborative divorce process?

What is the Collaborative Process? Collaborative law is a dispute resolution process which allows both parties involved and their lawyers to enter into a contract (the “Participation Agreement”) to finalise any legal aspects of their separation or divorce without attending court.

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.

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.

What to discuss with a divorce lawyer?

During your first meeting with a lawyer, you can discuss potential strategies to better manage the cost of a divorce. Of course, the cost does not all depend on you or your lawyer – your spouse and his or her lawyer will play a big role in the ultimate cost. 3.

What is the process of filing for divorce?

The process includes filing for divorce, serving or notifying the other party, gathering information, possible temporary orders to address child custody, support and managing assets during the divorce, and some form of resolution through either a settlement agreement or a court hearing.

Is divorce difficult?

Divorces are difficult even in the best of circumstances. Every divorce is very different, and the timing and difficulty of the process will depend on the issues that the parties need to resolve and the level of cooperation between the parties. However, most divorces follow a similar process.

What are the issues in a divorce in Arizona?

It’s very important that you have a working understanding of how issues in a divorce are resolved, including the issues of division of property, child custody, child support, and spousal maintenance/alimony. While couples do have the option of reaching an agreement about these issues on their own without intervention from the court–and are encouraged to do so–if an agreement cannot be reached, the court will make a determination based on the guidelines and requirements set forth in Arizona Code, Title 25 – Marital and Domestic Relations.

Is it a good idea to get divorced in Mesa?

Seeking legal representation is always a good idea when getting a divorce, even if you and your spouse are on good terms and in agreement about the majority of issues in your divorce. At the law offices of Edwards & Petersen, PLC, our Mesa divorce lawyers are ready to sit down with you to discuss your case today. Please call us or send us a message at your convenience to get started.

Is divorce expensive?

Divorce is often expensive, especially if your divorce is contested ( you and your spouse are in disagreement regarding how issues in your divorce should be resolved). While having an attorney on your side is invaluable, you should take the time to learn exactly how your attorney charges and how much legal services are going to cost you. The last thing that you want is to be saddled with a large bill at the conclusion of your divorce that you weren’t expecting.

Is litigation necessary in divorce?

In fact, litigation is only necessary in the event that you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement about the terms of your divorce. Your attorney should be upfront and honest with you about this, as well as committed to aggressively representing you in negotiations in order to secure a positive outcome and mitigate court time. If you think that litigation will be necessary, be sure to ask how an attorney charges for in-courtroom time.

Is it easy to end a marriage in Mesa?

Making the decision to end your marriage is never an easy one, but something that can provide some comfort and peace of mind is knowing that you’re represented by a Mesa divorce lawyer. Before you jump the gun and hire just anyone, or initiate the process of filing for divorce, it’s important to get some big questions out of the way, first. Here’s a list of some of the most important questions to ask your divorce lawyer—

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 do you need one point of contact when you are going through divorce?

Having one point of contact can make things so much easier .

How many people in the UK don't have a will?

With around 30 million adults in the UK not having a will in place, this is an important question to ask. Often people want to make a new will when they separate. While they are still married, their spouse can have claims on their estate, even if they’re separated.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How long does a divorce consultation last?

A typical divorce consultation with an attorney lasts an hour. That goes by very quickly, so you must stay organized and know what questions you want to ask. A good lawyer can anticipate your questions and will address them whether you ask or not. But if there are specific things you want to know, write them down ahead of time so you don’t forget ...

What is a reasonable attorney?

An attorney who's reasonable, fair and looks to amicably resolve issues first is an attorney who will keep your interests in mind and at the forefront of the case. Sometimes, you have no choice but to fight it out in court, but the most of the time, there are resolutions using other methods. 3.

Who is Jason Levoy?

Jason Levoy is an attorney who teaches people how to navigate the divorce process and represent themselves in court. He regularly provides free advice via his blog, newsletter and Private Divorce Facebook Group . Watch his FREE video course on 'How To Prepare For Divorce Without An Attorney'.

Main Issues to Discuss with Your Divorce Attorney

The checklists below, organized into general categories, can give you an idea of what documents you'll need to gather as well as issues to discuss with your divorce attorney.

Get Legal Help with Your Divorce

The legal issues involved in a divorce are numerous and complex, which is why it can be daunting to go through a divorce without legal representation. Contact a local divorce attorney who can answer any questions and help guide you through the divorce process.

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