When preparing for a divorce, there are a number of questions to ask a divorce lawyer to make sure the relationship is going to be a good fit.
There are many questions to consider, but the 4 most important concern:
- Money
- Communication
- Documentation
- Time
All of these lead to a more informed decision.
Money
Divorce can be costly. From the filing fees to the upfront retainer for your attorney, going through a divorce can be just as hard on your wallet as it is on your personal life.
The best way to budget and prepare for this is to know what questions to ask your divorce lawyer. Don’t forget that attorney fees themselves can be expensive — the more efficient you can be with your time, the more you can save.
1. How much do you charge?
There can be a range of services that your attorney charges for. The hourly rate, the upfront retainer, fees from their associates, and even phone calls or emails.
Hourly rates and the other fees can be costly — all the more reason to go into your first session prepared with a list of questions knowing what to expect.
2. Can you send me an itemized bill?
Understanding where your money is going will give you greater peace of mind and will help you expect upcoming charges.
3. What charges should I expect?
Your attorney knows the ins and outs of the court systems and can tell you what court fees or surprise bills might come.
Even if your attorney can’t give you a precise estimate of the total fees, they can give you a ballpark estimate.
Any seasoned divorce attorney has been through this process with dozens of clients and can help prepare you for unexpected bills that may come your way.
Communication
Communication is key — attorneys need full disclosure to do their jobs efficiently and correctly.
4. What are your lawyer’s rules on communication?
Knowing how or when to contact your attorney is essential. They will have set times you can call and times when it’s best to email. They might also have specific numbers for you to contact instead of the one from Google or their website.
5. What does your attorney need from you? What personal information is relevant to your case?
Any details they can provide you on what to divulge will save you both time. If there are any skeletons in your closet that could harm your case, they need to know to get ahead of them.
If there’s something you’re not sure about that might help, it’s best to tell them.
6. What shouldn’t you tell your friends or spouse?
Keeping details about your case confidential is important, but it’s hard to know what exactly is okay. Your attorney will have lots of experience with keeping things quiet. They can advise you on what to keep to yourself and what is safe for day-to-day chatter.
7. Can your attorney keep you updated on all developments that may happen with your case?
Everyone likes being kept in the loop, but sometimes things change. Asking to be informed will let you mentally prepare for the coming court cases, helping you sleep at night.
8. Do you know my spouse or my spouse’s attorney?
Your attorney knowing your spouse’s attorney isn’t that big of a deal — it can be a comfort factor or even a strategic tactic.
However, your attorney knowing your spouse could be a conflict of interest and may cause issues within the case. At JulianJohnson, P.C., we have processes in place to prevent these types of conflicts of interest on the front end.
Documentation
As with anything that happens in the court, paperwork is a large part of it. You need your documentation, their documentation, and the court’s documentation.
9. Can your attorney give you a copy of all documents from your case?
Having your own copies can prove useful in the long run. If you ask your attorney, they will more than likely give you copies of various court documentation.
10. What are all the documents that you need to collect?
Required documents can vary by attorney, so it’s important to ask yours what they will need. They can give you a list of all the documents you may need so that you can be prepared.
11. What personal documents do you need to update and how?
During these stressful times, small tasks may fall through the cracks — your attorney can help you with this. They know what documents need to be changed and how to edit them.
Time
Your divorce might be a cut-and-dry event where you both are amicable and it isn’t a lengthy process. Your divorce might be lengthy and be filled with custody battles and negotiations.
The difference between an uncontested and a contested divorce is time. Either way, you’re going to want to know an average estimate.
12. What is the divorce process from start to finish and what is their time estimate?
Knowing what to expect and how long to expect it is important. A game plan and a time estimation can help you to not feel overwhelmed.
Asking your attorney about this will give both you and them a more solid game plan for the entire divorce process.
13. Does your attorney have the time for your case?
Attorneys have other cases — this isn’t a problem. But having too many cases at once can cause you to feel a little lacking.
Making sure beforehand that they have the time to give your case the best possible treatment will be indispensable.
Be Prepared
There are of course many more questions to ask a divorce attorney, but these depend on your specific situation. These questions are just intended to steer you in the right direction, to help you stay informed and select the right attorney.
Remember that any question you feel you need to ask is a question worth asking. Your attorney is there to assist you and defend you.
They want to help you protect yourself and your interests, so take your time and write out a list of everything you want to know beforehand.
Better yet, print out this post, and bring these questions to your divorce lawyer so you can be prepared for whatever comes your way.
When you’re ready to meet with an attorney to discuss your case, we’re here for you.
