Tips for Working with Your Divorce Attorney
If you want to start working with your divorce attorney, this list should bring the basics you need.
- Come Prepared. We can give you the best advice for your situation if we have all of the relevant information about your case. Bring in copies of any tax returns, pay stubs and bank statements that relate to this year so we can take a look at them during our first meeting together. These papers will help us help you!
- Ask Questions. We want you to leave our consultation feeling confident that we have addressed all of your concerns. To ensure this, please write out a list of questions in advance so that you can refer to them during the meeting and make sure important topics are not overlooked.
- Be Organized. Keep a log of important events, dates, and times. This will be useful later if you need to remember what happened during the case or where your attorney said he/she was taking action on your behalf. It is also helpful for you and your lawyer to have an organized record of all communications so that nothing falls through the cracks in terms of a paper trail when it matters most (like testifying).
Correspondence and You
Our firm will keep a copy of all the correspondence it sends on your behalf and make sure that you have reviewed and approved any content before we send it. We also maintain an organized filing system for pleadings or other documents that are important to your case.
- Involve Yourself. If you want to get what you need from a divorce, whether it’s full custody or financial support for yourself and your children, don’t wait for someone else (like your spouse or attorney) to make big decisions on your behalf. Actively fighting for what you want is the best way to achieve that goal, even if it feels difficult in the presence of divorce shock/grief.
- Ask for Clarification.If you’re confused or don’t understand something, do some independent research before talking with us about it. We’ll always be willing to explain things properly and address your concerns—but that shouldn’t excuse a lack of effort on your part, you need to be proactive with your case! You should also make sure that your lawyer can explain things simply and clearly, without resorting to complicated legal language.
- Honesty is the Best Policy. When you meet with your lawyer, make sure that you tell him or her everything, no matter how insignificant it may seem. The more information he/she has about your case and circumstances the better s/he can represent your best interests in court. Keeping things that you’re nervous about hidden under your belt until immediately before your trial (or worse, at trial!) is not a winning strategy.
- Set Realistic Goals. When hiring a divorce attorney, it is important to make sure that his or her style meshes with yours and that you are both on the same page when it comes to your goals. Your lawyer will work relentlessly for you as he/she advocates for what’s most important in your case, such as preserving assets like homes and retirement accounts by getting them designated separate property during the divorce process.
Conclusion for Working with Your Divorce Attorney
If you’ve got questions about these issues, feel free to contact us at Thompson Law. We’re devoted to being the right choice for you during your legal battles, and working with you every step of the way to get you what you need.