Divorce Lawyer Consultation: Questions to ask
When meeting with a divorce lawyer for an initial consultation, it's beneficial to obtain as much information as possible. If you fail to prepare and forget to ask about essential details, you might end up having to pay the lawyer to address those concerns at a later time.
Lawyer Fee Structure
The very first concern you must ask the divorce attorney throughout the consultation is about her charge structure. Specifically, you wish to know whether the attorney will bill you for each hour she spends on your case, including the time she spends addressing your concerns, or whether it's a set cost. Given that divorce procedures can in some cases take years to complete, you should prepare for the financial implications.
Divorce Procedures
Every state has different procedures you and your attorney need to follow to apply for divorce. The length of time necessary to finish a divorce will constantly depend on the intricacy of your circumstance, your attorney ought to provide you with an estimate of the timeline. If you work full-time or have other obligations that take in a bulk of your time, understanding of vital divorce procedures and the time commitments they require can help you get ready for what lies ahead.
Spousal support Issues
States have specific rules that dictate whether a partner might find out more seek alimony from the other partner. In many cases, eligibility associates with the length of your marriage, whether you or your spouse stays at home to raise kids, and even the discrepancy in revenues in between spouses. Therefore, regardless of whether you are the partner looking for the alimony or have concerns about your liability for its payment, raising the concern throughout the initial consultation with your lawyer can offer you with insight into your prospective liabilities as you proceed through the divorce.
Kid Custody
When you have children with your spouse, and are unable to independently concur as to who will maintain custody, it's crucial to understand from the outset which aspects are very important to state judges when deciding which parent to award custody to. For that reason, you must ask your attorney what your chances are of getting custody of your children. Given that child custody issues often lengthen divorce proceedings, it's best to understand which problems are best to concede and which to challenge. You may 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
Most state divorce laws supply an uncomplicated formula for designating joint possessions between partners. The formula differs for each state since state home laws will dictate the ownership rights of each spouse. For that reason, it's essential to ask the divorce legal representative what the legal structure for splitting marital possessions is in your state.
For more information, contact:
Clearwater Law Group
5205 West Clearwater Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 734-8500