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What Questions Should I Ask My Divorce Attorney
When you visit a divorce lawyer for the first time, you will have a lot of questions. You will probably be very nervous and confused.
What Questions Should I Ask My Divorce Attorney on the First Visit?
When you visit a divorce lawyer for the first time, you will have a lot of questions. You will probably be very nervous and confused. A good lawyer will put you at ease right away. He or she should also be willing to answer all your questions. You should ask any questions you have about the divorce process. There are no stupid questions.
Choose a few lawyers and meet with each. Consider these questions to ask:
- Are you aggressive or conservative in your approach? Ask which approach they take and how they plan to meet your goals.
- Do you concentrate in divorce? Many attorneys who handle family law matters concentrate in divorce. They deal with divorcing couples issues like division of property, and parenting time every day. Some attorneys offer a wider variety of practice areas, but may not deal with divorce cases on a daily basis. Choose a lawyer who concentrates his practice in family law. Find out how long he has been practicing.
- What do you charge? Is there a retainer and how much is it? Find out about other costs, such as hiring private investigators, forensic accountants, psychologists, etc. Then, inquire about a rough estimate on the total cost. Ultimately, you want an honest attorney who will be upfront with you about realistic costs rather than someone who tries to obtain your business by underestimating the cost.
- What can I do to reduce the overall cost? With so much legwork involved in divorce cases, there may be some areas in which you can lend a hand to reduce your cost.
- How easy is it to get in touch with you? In general, how many hours or days does it take for your office to return phone calls? What about appointments? What qualifies as an emergency?
- Will there be other lawyers or paralegals working on my case? If so, ask their names and find out what their qualifications are. Ask if your lawyer will be the main point of contact or if that will be someone else.
Paras, Apy & Reiss will do all we can to give you peace of mind. Part of that involves answering all your questions. Communication is an essential part of our success and your success. Call for more information at 732.219.9000.
