Divorce Lawyer Consultation: Questions to ask
When meeting with a divorce attorney for an initial consultation, it's advantageous to obtain as much information as possible. If you fail to prepare and forget to inquire about vital details, you might end up having to pay the lawyer to address those concerns at a later time.
Attorney Fee Structure
The first question you ought to ask the divorce lawyer during the assessment has to do with her charge structure. Particularly, you wish to know whether the attorney will bill you for each hour she spends on your case, including the time she invests addressing your concerns, or whether it's a fixed fee. Since divorce proceedings can often take years to settle, you should prepare for the financial implications.
Divorce Procedures
Every state has various treatments you and your lawyer should follow to declare divorce. The length of time needed to complete a divorce will constantly depend on 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 consume a bulk of your time, understanding of vital divorce procedures and the time commitments they require 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. In some cases, eligibility relates to the length of your marital relationship, whether you or your partner stays home to raise children, or perhaps the full article inconsistency in profits between partners. For that reason, despite whether you are the spouse looking for the spousal support or have concerns about your liability for its payment, raising the question throughout the preliminary consultation with your lawyer can supply you with insight into your prospective liabilities as you proceed through the divorce.
Child Custody
You must ask your attorney what your chances are of getting custody of your children. Given that kid custody issues often extend divorce proceedings, it's finest to know which issues are best to yield and which to challenge.
Splitting Marital Assets
Most state divorce laws offer a straightforward formula for designating joint possessions between partners. The formula varies for each state given that state residential or commercial property laws will dictate the ownership rights of each partner. Therefore, it's crucial to ask the divorce attorney what the legal framework for splitting marital properties is in your state.
For more information, contact:
Clearwater Law Group
5205 West Clearwater Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 734-8500