6 Crucial Questions To Ask a Divorce Attorney During Your First Meeting

legal advice divorce lawThere's a common disclaimer you'll find on legal websites and commercials, and we'll repeat it here for emphasis:

"The materials available on this web site are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal counsel or advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular legal issue or problem."

Why do we bring this up here? Because the lawyer-client privilege is a sacred bond. That might sound like exaggeration, but it's the truth. It's an near iron-clad legal principle, and if violated, your attorney could be disbarred. That's why when you finally choose a family or divorce lawyer to represent you, it's crucial that you ask him or her for all the legal advice you need. And that goes double for legal advice divorce law issues.

Legal Advice Divorce Law: 6 Questions To Ask a Divorce Attorney At Your FIRST Meeting...
Relationships and marriage are the fourth most common cause of stress. One reason is that many people divorce at a relatively young age, with the average age of a first divorce being just 30 years old. Not only that, but 40-50% of first marriages end in divorce, 60% of second marriages, and even higher percentages for third and fourth marriages.

Remember: your divorce attorney is not your therapist. That being said, they can be a valuable source of support and strength. It's important to start off on the right foot with questions like:

  1. Is divorce law your specialty? Moreover, if you have children, have you worked as a family law lawyer before? Child custody lawyers can be hugely helpful, but if you don't have children, you'll want a lawyer with experience relevant to your divorce case.
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  3. How do you bill your clients? This is a crucial issue, so don't beat around the bush. You need to know exactly when and how much you will be billed.
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  5. Do you have experience in amicable splits/mediated divorces? While this isn't always an option, it's growing in popularity, particularly in family law cases.
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  7. What should I do right now? Hopefully, you've already gotten a picture of your financials. But after you go over your case, ask your lawyer what you need to be doing at this stage in the divorce.
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  9. Are there other divorce lawyers at this firm who will work on my case, or will you handle it personally? You deserve a straight answer to this question, so don't be afraid to press for particulars.
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  11. Finally, ask your divorce attorney what they would ask if they were in your shoes. If you've hired the best divorce lawyer for you, they have the kind of legal advice divorce lawyers take for granted. Don't be afraid to ask for their insights.