Divorce Lawyer Consultation: Questions to ask
When meeting with a divorce lawyer for an initial assessment, it's helpful to get as much info as possible. If you fail to prepare and forget to inquire about vital information, you might end up having to pay the lawyer to respond to those questions at a later time.
Attorney Fee Structure
The first concern you need to ask the divorce attorney during the consultation is about her cost structure. Particularly, you would like to know whether the lawyer will bill you for each hour she spends on your case, including the time she invests addressing your concerns, or whether it's a fixed fee. Since divorce procedures can often take years to complete, you should prepare for the monetary ramifications.
Divorce Procedures
Every state has various procedures you and your attorney need to follow to apply for divorce. Although the length of time needed to complete a divorce will always depend upon the intricacy of your circumstance, your attorney should supply you with a price quote of the timeline. If you work full-time or have other responsibilities that consume a majority of your time, understanding of vital divorce procedures and the time commitments they require can help you prepare for what lies ahead.
Spousal support Issues
States have specific guidelines that determine whether a spouse might look for alimony from the other partner. In many cases, eligibility associates additional reading with the length of your marriage, whether you or your partner stays home to raise kids, and even the discrepancy in earnings in between spouses. For that reason, despite whether you are the spouse looking for the spousal support or have concerns about your liability for its payment, raising the concern throughout the initial assessment with your attorney can provide you with insight into your possible liabilities as you proceed through the divorce.
Kid Custody
When you have children with your partner, and are unable to privately concur as to who will maintain custody, it's essential to understand from the start which factors are necessary to state judges when choosing which parent to award custody to. For that reason, you ought to ask your attorney what your possibilities are of obtaining custody of your kids. Because child custody problems sometimes lengthen divorce proceedings, it's finest to understand which issues are best to yield and which to challenge. You might likewise ask about alternative disagreement resolution like mediation or arbitration if you feel going to trial is something you 'd like to prevent.
Splitting Marital Assets
A lot of state divorce laws provide an uncomplicated formula for assigning joint properties in between spouses. The formula differs for each state considering that state residential or commercial property laws will dictate the ownership rights of each partner. Therefore, it's essential to ask the divorce lawyer what the legal structure for splitting marital assets remains in your state.
For more information, contact:
The Law Offices of Saylin & Swisher
5031 Birch Street
Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (949) 577-9240