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 address those concerns at a later time.
Attorney Fee Structure
The first question you need to ask the divorce legal representative throughout the assessment is about her fee structure. Specifically, you want to know whether the lawyer will bill you for each hour she invests in your case, consisting of the time she spends answering your questions, or whether it's a set cost. Considering that divorce proceedings can sometimes take years to finalize, you need to get ready for the monetary implications.
Divorce Procedures
Every state has different procedures you and your lawyer need to follow to declare divorce. Although the length of time required 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 commitments that take in a majority of your time, knowledge of necessary divorce treatments and the time commitments they require can help you get ready for what lies ahead.
Alimony Issues
States have particular rules that dictate whether a partner may seek spousal support from the other partner. In some cases, eligibility connects to the length of your marital relationship, whether you or your spouse stays at home to raise kids, or even the discrepancy in incomes between spouses. For that reason, despite whether you are the spouse looking for the alimony or have concerns about your liability for its payment, raising the concern check here during the initial assessment with your attorney can supply you with insight into your prospective liabilities as you proceed through the divorce.
Child Custody
You must ask your attorney what your opportunities are of acquiring custody of your kids. Considering that child custody concerns in some cases lengthen divorce proceedings, it's best to understand which issues are best to yield and which to challenge.
Splitting Marital Assets
The majority of state divorce laws offer a straightforward formula for assigning joint assets in between spouses. Nevertheless, the formula varies for each state given that state residential or commercial property laws will dictate the ownership rights of each partner. It's important to ask the divorce attorney what the legal framework for splitting marital properties is 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