Getting a divorce has never been easy, yet one must do it. Divorce, like any other undertaking, needs to be prepared for.
It's a given that the entire divorce proceeding causes a lot of anxiety and emotional stress. Lawyers who are familiar with seeing people in these situations all agree that being well-prepared is a tremendous help.
Open mind, frankness, honesty
Lawyers agree that the more willing you're to compromise, the greater it may help them obtain a fair resolution. The more prepared you are (honest, accurate, frank) the more your lawyer can solve the issues.
Acting efficiently may also lower your legal expenses, reduce the time spent with your lawyer and reduce stress on yourself. From the legal professionals themselves, here are a few recommendations you may use in preparing for your divorce.
Questions
Make a list of your detailed questions to your lawyer. Lawyers bill in units of four, six, ten, or fifteen minutes. Normally, a minimum amount of time is charged even if your time with your lawyer is less.
Asking several questions in one call enables your lawyer to work better and saves you attorney's fees (in multiple calls).
Information
Even in your very first meeting, it pays to provide your lawyer with a list of needed information.
Top of the list would be the basic data which includes your names, home and work addresses (and numbers), places and dates of births of kids (if any), Social Security numbers, health information along with other important details.
Next would be the relevant facts about your marriage, place and date, information on previous marriages (if any) and details of them, such as pre-nuptial agreements, etc.
If you have children inform your lawyer your precise position on issues like custody and access. Include, too, any and all conversations with your spouse on these matters (if there were).
Be frank in telling your lawyer if there are any criminal records of either you or your spouse, any spousal abuse, and whether it was reported or not.
Inform your lawyer details of your debts and assets, providing copies of paperwork on tax statements, mortgages, and others. Tell your lawyer, too, if you have pending lawsuits, bankruptcy proceedings, etc.
Expenses
Get an explanation on how legal expenses are calculated, your lawyer's billing and collection policies (or those of his firm), the rates, retainer figures, and other extraneous expenses.
Be frank to inquire about ballpark figures of estimated legal costs.
Good client
It will work to your advantage if you can do all of the above. It is not easy to complete all of them, given the stressful conditions.
Nevertheless, doing your best in preparing yourself and your legal representative for your divorce procedures is already winning half the battle.
It's a given that the entire divorce proceeding causes a lot of anxiety and emotional stress. Lawyers who are familiar with seeing people in these situations all agree that being well-prepared is a tremendous help.
Open mind, frankness, honesty
Lawyers agree that the more willing you're to compromise, the greater it may help them obtain a fair resolution. The more prepared you are (honest, accurate, frank) the more your lawyer can solve the issues.
Acting efficiently may also lower your legal expenses, reduce the time spent with your lawyer and reduce stress on yourself. From the legal professionals themselves, here are a few recommendations you may use in preparing for your divorce.
Questions
Make a list of your detailed questions to your lawyer. Lawyers bill in units of four, six, ten, or fifteen minutes. Normally, a minimum amount of time is charged even if your time with your lawyer is less.
Asking several questions in one call enables your lawyer to work better and saves you attorney's fees (in multiple calls).
Information
Even in your very first meeting, it pays to provide your lawyer with a list of needed information.
Top of the list would be the basic data which includes your names, home and work addresses (and numbers), places and dates of births of kids (if any), Social Security numbers, health information along with other important details.
Next would be the relevant facts about your marriage, place and date, information on previous marriages (if any) and details of them, such as pre-nuptial agreements, etc.
If you have children inform your lawyer your precise position on issues like custody and access. Include, too, any and all conversations with your spouse on these matters (if there were).
Be frank in telling your lawyer if there are any criminal records of either you or your spouse, any spousal abuse, and whether it was reported or not.
Inform your lawyer details of your debts and assets, providing copies of paperwork on tax statements, mortgages, and others. Tell your lawyer, too, if you have pending lawsuits, bankruptcy proceedings, etc.
Expenses
Get an explanation on how legal expenses are calculated, your lawyer's billing and collection policies (or those of his firm), the rates, retainer figures, and other extraneous expenses.
Be frank to inquire about ballpark figures of estimated legal costs.
Good client
It will work to your advantage if you can do all of the above. It is not easy to complete all of them, given the stressful conditions.
Nevertheless, doing your best in preparing yourself and your legal representative for your divorce procedures is already winning half the battle.