Divorce is one of the most stressful and terrible occurrences that can occur in one’s life. In addition to experiencing an emotional roller coaster, you will face serious legal and family ramifications. When going through a divorce, it is critical to have an experienced divorce attorney on your side who can guide you through this uncertain time and help you reach the outcome you deserve.
If you want to assess whether a candidate is a good fit for you and your situation, you should be aware of the crucial questions to ask a divorce attorney during your initial session. We’ve compiled a list of seven of the most important questions to ask your divorce lawyer during your initial consultation. Though you can always contact Tarrant County divorce lawyers for managing your case in a better way.
Is There a Plan for How We Will Communicate Throughout the Case?
One of the first questions you should ask a divorce attorney is about how you intend to communicate with him or her over the course of your case. The ability to contact with your attorney on a frequent basis is critical to the success of your case.
You and your attorney should also talk about how you prefer to communicate with one another. Communication can take the following forms:
- Emails and telephone calls
- Meetings in person are preferable.
- Videoconferencing
If you like phone calls but the attorney favours internet contact, they may not be the best fit for you and your situation. A skilled attorney will be willing to adapt their communication style to your tastes as well as what is appropriate for the scenario and information at hand, if that is possible. For example, in some cases, a brief email may be sufficient, yet in other situations, a face-to-face conference may be required to effectively communicate.
Additionally, you should inquire about if you will be communicating with support staff; such as a paralegal, legal secretary, or an assistant lawyer at this time as well. Obtain information about the credentials of any support staff members with whom you will be communicating; and who will be responsible for different areas of your case. Additionally, the quantity of communication you will need to have with your attorney will be determined by the complexity of your situation. It is likely that you and your attorney will communicate more frequently if your case is more complicated.
You should be confident in an attorney’s ability to respond quickly, especially if you are dealing with a time-sensitive problem or an emergency scenario. You should also have confidence in the fact that every member of your legal team is working to protect your rights and interests.
How much experience do you have and will there be a team behind my case are two important questions to ask.
In addition, you should inquire about the amount of experience a divorce attorney has during your initial consultation. Is this attorney a specialist in the field of divorce law?
You should inquire of your attorney about his or her experience with child support and child custody if you have a minor child. If you and your spouse find up in court to divide assets, child support, and custody; an attorney with the knowledge you require will thoroughly grasp the divorce procedure; will know how to expedite the process; and will be able to effectively collaborate with court employees and other attorneys.
What is the fee structure for this service?
When considering whether or not to engage with an attorney; it is important to understand their cost structure so that you can determine whether or not you can afford to hire them. A lawyer’s legal services may not be appropriate for you if the cost of their services does not fit into your financial budget.
How long do most cases take on average?
However, while no attorney can promise how long a case will take; an attorney who has handled a number of divorce cases will have an idea of how long cases similar to yours have taken in the past. There are a variety of factors that impact how long a divorce might take, including:
- Child custody and alimony
- Support for the child
- The total amount of the asset that must be divided
What type of communication should I have with my husband or wife?
An attorney can advise you on the appropriate mode of contact to have with your spouse regarding the divorce. In your consultation with a divorce attorney, you will learn about the importance of the attorney-client relationship; and why you should not divulge any discussions between you and your attorney to anyone else, including your husband.
Alternatively, if you and your spouse are having difficulty maintaining agreeable communication; you may want to seek help from an attorney; who may draw on their extensive experience to provide you with direction. The tools that an experienced divorce attorney can provide you with include knowing; when and how to speak with your spouse, as well as knowing how to diffuse friction in the marriage.
Are there any reviews or testimonials that can assist me in making my decision?
Testimonials and evaluations from previous clients can assist you in deciding whether or not you want to deal with a certain attorney. This information may be available on the attorney’s website; or on other websites where people exchange their opinions on products and services.
Some attorneys may make this information available on their websites, while others may choose not to do so. This could be a red flag if you suspect an attorney has not provided this information while having positive evaluations from family and friends on their website.
What actions can my spouse do to increase the cost, and how can I prevent this from happening in the first place?
It is possible that your spouse will attempt to increase the cost of the divorce; and make the procedure more difficult for you depending on his or her personality type. A divorce attorney has knowledge of numerous personality types and may provide you with guidance on prevalent patterns of conduct. A high-conflict divorce can cost much more than an amiable divorce, according to the American Bar Association. A spouse’s disagreements about child custody, child support, alimony, and the split of debts and assets can raise the costs of the divorce.
A good attorney should be able to advise you on steps you may take to keep costs down in your particular case during the initial appointment. You should ask this question toward the end of your discussion; because an attorney must be conversant with your situation in order to provide you with sound advice.
