Divorce Lawyer Consultation: Questions to ask
When meeting with a divorce lawyer for a preliminary consultation, it's beneficial to acquire as much info as possible. Maximizing your time requires that you prepare a list of questions you require answers to before your meeting. If you fail to prepare and forget to inquire about crucial info, you might wind up needing to pay the lawyer to respond to those questions at a later time. Usually, your concerns will likely be about monetary and kid custody concerns.
Lawyer Fee Structure
The very first concern you need to ask the divorce legal representative throughout the assessment has to do with her charge structure. Particularly, you need to know whether the lawyer will bill you for each hour she invests in your case, consisting of the time she invests addressing your concerns, or whether it's a fixed charge. Because divorce procedures can in some cases take years to settle, you need to get ready for the monetary ramifications.
Divorce Procedures
Every state has various procedures you and your attorney must follow to file for divorce. Although the length of time necessary to finish a divorce will always depend on the complexity of your situation, your attorney ought to provide you with an estimate of the timeline. If you work full-time or have other responsibilities that take in a majority of your time, knowledge of essential divorce procedures and the time dedications they need can assist you get ready for what lies ahead.
Alimony Issues
States have specific guidelines that determine whether a spouse may seek spousal support from the other partner. Sometimes, eligibility relates to the length of your marriage, whether you or your partner stays at home to raise children, or even the disparity in incomes in between spouses. Regardless of whether you are the partner seeking the alimony or have concerns about your liability for its payment, raising the question throughout the initial consultation with your lawyer can supply you with insight into your prospective liabilities as you proceed through the divorce.
Child Custody
You ought to ask your attorney what your opportunities are of acquiring custody of your children. Given that child custody issues often extend divorce proceedings, it's best to understand which problems are best to concede and which to challenge.
Splitting Marital Assets
The majority of state divorce laws offer a straightforward formula for designating joint possessions between partners. Nevertheless, the formula varies for each state since state property laws will determine the ownership rights of each partner. It's crucial to ask the divorce attorney what the legal framework for splitting marital assets is in your state.
For more information, contact:
Clearwater Law Group
5205 read more West Clearwater Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 734-8500