what to tell divorce lawyer

by Sylvia Beahan 4 min read

Things You Need to Tell Your Divorce Lawyer Immediately.

  • You Don’t Really Want a Divorce. You’d be surprised at the number of people who seek help from divorce attorneys but don’t actually want a divorce.
  • You Signed a Prenuptial Agreement.
  • One of You Isn’t an American Citizen.
  • You Did Something Bad Your Spouse Might Bring Up.
  • You Have Hidden Assets.

Full Answer

Should I tell my divorce attorney everything about my marriage?

Nov 24, 2018 · Divorce is complicated -- legally, financially, and emotionally. Dividing up property a couple has acquired throughout their marriage (also known as marital property) can be one of the most contentious aspects of divorce.Luckily, divorce attorneys can help alleviate some of your legal and financial stresses by advocating for a division of property that works in your favor.

What should I tell my attorney about my marriage and children?

Some of the information that we could ask for during a consultation includes, The basic facts of your relationship, including how long you’ve known each other. Why you, your spouse, or both of you want to divorce. What your problems are, when …

What information do I need to get a divorce?

Jan 14, 2021 · 1. Ask them to describe their approach to the divorce process. Each lawyer you speak to should have a slightly different answer to this. Sure, the divorce process is the same, in terms of paperwork, but your lawyer’s approach will differ.

How do I go through a divorce without a lawyer?

Feb 18, 2015 · Divorce is not as cheap as you think. Divorce lawyers are notoriously terrible at helping the clients understand the full cost of a divorce at the beginning of the process. Your lawyer may worry that "sticker shock" from a candid assessment and a true estimated fee for legal services might send you straight out the door looking for other counsel.

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What should a woman ask for in a divorce settlement?

5 more things to ask for in a divorce settlement agreement

Co-parenting plan. Relationship building. Documentation. Money.
Aug 16, 2019

Can you tell your lawyer everything?

Attorney-Client Privilege – Your attorney is bound by the ethics of the legal profession not to reveal whatever you tell him without your permission. The only times this doesn't apply is if you: Waive your right to privilege, which means you give the lawyer permission to disclose information.Oct 15, 2014

What is fair to ask for in a divorce?

The Elements of a Fair Settlement in Divorce:

Child support and related expenses. Alimony / maintenance / spousal support / spousal maintenance (determining if it applies and if so, the amount and duration);

How do you win everything in a divorce?

6 Divorce Tactics to Win a Case
  1. Establishing a Solid Defence. In highly contested divorces, both spouses will have a reason why they believe the courts should agree in their favor. ...
  2. Forming an Attack Theory. ...
  3. Building a Compelling Story. ...
  4. Dissipating Any Anger. ...
  5. Rehabilitating Your Client. ...
  6. Negotiating the Agreement.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your Lawyer
  • I forgot I had an appointment. ...
  • I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ...
  • I have already done some of the work for you. ...
  • My case will be easy money for you. ...
  • I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ...
  • Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.
•
Mar 17, 2021

Do lawyers lie for their clients?

In NSW, that body is called the Law Society of New South Wales. The ethical standards do not prevent criminal lawyers from representing a client they know is guilty, but the lawyer will not be able to lie or knowingly mislead the court on their client's behalf.Dec 18, 2014

How should a woman prepare for a divorce?

9 Critical Steps Women Should Take To Prepare For Divorce
  1. Gather your financial records. ...
  2. Open a Post Office Box. ...
  3. Start putting money away for legal and other professional fees. ...
  4. Open a new checking and savings account. ...
  5. Open new credit cards in your name only. ...
  6. Get a copy of your credit report.

What is leverage in a divorce?

Leverage is what you need to incentivize the other person to settle. This might be information, money, or anything that you know will cause the other side to want to resolve the case, and more importantly in a way that you want it to settle.Aug 25, 2021

What does a fair divorce look like?

A fair settlement should first identify marital and separate property and address only how marital property is divided. You should also look at your state's laws on how property is divided. States usually follow one of two ways to divide the property: 50/50 (community property states) or through equitable distribution.Jun 5, 2020

How do you fight a narcissist in a divorce?

Divorcing a Narcissist
  1. Don't Even THINK That Your Divorce Will Be Amicable. ...
  2. Get a Strong, but Reasonable, Divorce Lawyer. ...
  3. Get a Therapist. ...
  4. Assemble Your Support Team BEFORE You Divorce. ...
  5. Get EVERYTHING in Writing! ...
  6. Stay Out of Court as Much as You Can. ...
  7. Find Ways Your Narcissistic Spouse Can “Win” ...
  8. Pick Your Battles Wisely.

How can a woman protect herself in a divorce?

Whenever possible, make a good faith attempt to work things out, and always weigh the consequences of your actions.
  1. If you have children, consider staying in the family home. ...
  2. Don't allow your spouse to take the children and leave. ...
  3. Get an attorney. ...
  4. Safeguard personal papers and make copies of important records.

How do I protect myself financially in a divorce?

If divorce is looming, here are six ways to protect yourself financially.
  1. Identify all of your assets and clarify what's yours. Identify your assets. ...
  2. Get copies of all your financial statements. Make copies. ...
  3. Secure some liquid assets. Go to the bank. ...
  4. Know your state's laws. ...
  5. Build a team. ...
  6. Decide what you want — and need.
Dec 31, 2019

What to tell your lawyer about prenuptial agreements?

Absolutely tell your lawyer about any prenuptial agreements you signed or those you verbally agreed to before your marriage. This includes any type of agreement you might not have known was official, such as a napkin you signed when you and your spouse were out to dinner during engagement planning. The courts take written contracts very seriously in any capacity. The same is true for any postnuptial agreements you signed. These contracts can change the outcome of your divorce case and are critical information to give to your lawyer.

Can divorce affect citizenship?

One of You Isn’t an American Citizen. Divorce contracts can affect the citizenship of a spouse who was not born in the United States. If your marriage ends, the status of a spouse who is an immigrant can change. Tell your lawyer if you or your spouse is not an American citizen, so he or she can offer help and advice for what to do after ...

How can a divorce attorney help you?

Luckily, divorce attorneys can help alleviate some of your legal and financial stresses by advocating for a division of property that works in your favor. If you've decided to retain a divorce attorney, you can help save your attorney time (and save yourself some money) by gathering important legal and financial documents together ...

What is the most contentious aspect of divorce?

Dividing up property a couple has acquired throughout their marriage (also known as marital property) can be one of the most contentious aspects of divorce. Luckily, divorce attorneys can help alleviate some of your legal and financial stresses by advocating for a division of property that works in your favor.

Is divorce complicated?

Divorce is complicated -- legally, financially, and emotionally. Dividing up property a couple has acquired throughout their marriage (also known as marital property) can be one of the most contentious aspects of divorce. Luckily, divorce attorneys can help alleviate some of your legal and financial stresses by advocating for a division ...

Honesty is the best policy

You’ll want information from us and we’ll give that to you as best as we can. We will also want information from you. Just as you want us to be honest, we want you to be honest too.

Information we may want from you

Some of the information that we could ask for during a consultation includes,

Contact us and schedule a free consultation

Cravens & Noll represents clients in the Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and Harrisonburg areas in all aspects of divorce, including negotiation, mediation and taking a case to court. We give our clients the opportunity to explain their situation and concerns and talk about the goals they’re seeking.

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.

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.

What is the most important thing to do during a divorce?

During a divorce, you are putting your trust in your lawyer with the most important things in your life: Your children (if you have them) and your financial future. Honesty isn’t just the best policy— it is absolutely essential. If there are skeletons in your closet, your ex may be game to leverage them during litigation.

Can adultery be a bar to alimony?

In my jurisdiction and others, fault grounds still exist, and consensual kinky behavior can get misconstrued if your attorney learns about it for the first time in front of a judge. In some jurisdictions, adultery is an absolute bar to receiving alimony.

What can a divorce attorney do for you?

An experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorney will provide you with the tools to communicate better with your spouse. These tools include how to communicate with your spouse, when to communicate with your spouse and how to diffuse conflict.

How to plan your life after a divorce?

If you want to plan your life after a divorce, you should at least have a general idea of how long divorces similar to yours take. This planning will also help you prepare a budget for the cost of divorce. The attorney should truthfully tell you there is no way to predict exactly how long a divorce will take.

What is spousal support?

Spousal support, also called alimony, is either temporary or ordered at the final judgment. Most divorce cases include both temporary spousal support and spousal support at the judgment phase. We are not going to go into a lengthy discussion about spousal support.

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