Divorce Lawyer Consultation: Questions to ask
When meeting with a divorce lawyer for an initial 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 vital information, you may end up having to pay the attorney to address those concerns 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 is about her charge structure. Specifically, you want to know whether the attorney will bill you for each hour she spends on your case, consisting of the time she invests addressing your concerns, or whether it's a fixed fee. Since divorce proceedings can often take years to settle, you need to get ready for the monetary implications.
Divorce Procedures
Every state has different treatments you and your lawyer should follow to declare divorce. Although the length of time required to complete a divorce will always depend upon the intricacy of your scenario, your lawyer must offer 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 necessary divorce treatments and the time dedications they require can help you prepare for what lies ahead.
Spousal support Issues
States have specific guidelines that determine whether a spouse may look for spousal support from the other spouse. In some cases, eligibility connects to the length of your marital relationship, whether you or your spouse stays home to raise kids, and even the discrepancy in earnings in between partners. Regardless of whether you are the spouse looking for the spousal support 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 potential liabilities as you continue through the divorce.
Kid Custody
When you have children with your partner, and are not able to privately concur regarding who will keep custody, it's important to comprehend from the beginning which factors are necessary to state judges when choosing which parent to award custody to. You need to ask your lawyer what your chances are of getting custody of your kids. Because kid custody problems sometimes lengthen divorce procedures, it's best to understand which problems are best to concede and which to read this article challenge. You may also ask about alternative disagreement resolution like mediation or arbitration if you feel going to trial is something you 'd like to avoid.
Splitting Marital Assets
Most state divorce laws offer a straightforward formula for designating joint possessions between partners. However, the formula differs for each state considering that state property laws will determine the ownership rights of each spouse. It's essential to ask the divorce lawyer what the legal structure for splitting marital assets is in your state.
For more information, contact:
Clearwater Law Group
5205 West Clearwater Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 734-8500