June 13, 2008
Divorce Lawyers
Probably the most crucial aspect of divorce is choosing a divorce lawyer; ensure they have at least the following abilities:
<ul> <li>An expert in their chosen field</li> <li>Have the right attitude for this work</li> <li>Be reliable</li> </ul>
You will need an attorney where at least fifty percent of their work is in this area and unless you’re expecting problems, preferably one trained in divorce mediation that practices it professionally. It also follows that you feel comfortable with them and feel confident they will serve you well. Adversarial attorneys will use the hammer to crack a walnut approach which often happens when these cases go to court whereas an attorney who specializes in mediation will take a much calmer approach. To get the most from your divorce lawyer, be well prepared and have everything written down; do not waste your money and time asking questions, the answers to which are readily available.
Whether you intend to see them or speak on the phone, write everything down as this is the most efficient way to utilize your legal representative and keep a record of dates and times you spoke with them. Keep a file for all your notes, letters and documents so do as much as possible on the phone and by mail to keep the office time at a minimum. Remember you divorce attorney is there for their expertise in the field and not to act as a counselor, you should hopefully be able to use people close to you for that. Always keep to the facts of the case when you speak with your divorce lawyer, don’t start complaining about you spouses actions unless you want your lawyer to take some legal action on your behalf.
Being in control of your own case and your own life is the single best thing you can do, so it is essential that you have a lawyer who can work on that basis. You are employing them for their experience but at the same time you need them to understand that it is your divorce and you want to make the decisions about how it is too proceed. Let them know that copies of any correspondence relating to the case will need to be sent to you along with any other information and if you contact them, to reply as quickly as possible.
Instead of hiring a lawyer, it may be far more cost-effective to use the lawyer just for information or advice on specific subjects like a marital settlement because that may be all the legal help you will need. After you have organized all your facts and read about how the law works in your case, if you still have questions about the law or the likely outcome, write all your questions down and ask your lawyer. There is no reason your divorce lawyer cannot be used purely in a consultancy role to help draw up a marital settlement and if need be can step in if things do not go according to plan.
