No one dreams that they’re marriage will end in divorce, but some marriages unfortunately do. When this happens, you need to find a lawyer. A lawyer who will offer useful advice, help throughout the entire divorce process, and work tirelessly to get the results you want.
It is your responsibility to get the most from your divorce lawyer.
Without the right approach, your divorce lawyer will have to spend a lot of time getting things done that you should have done yourself. This will inevitably increase your legal bills.
So here are seven ways to make your divorce lawyer’s life easier.
1. Make sure you actually need a lawyer
You may be surprised that I’m starting with this one. But it’s worth thinking about whether you actually need a lawyer at all.
The fact is, divorce cases vary greatly in complexity. Some are very simple, with little chance of any disagreement between the two parties. For example, if you and your spouse have already agreed on a settlement, all you’ll need is your signatures on a few documents.
Or say that you’re happily married and you’ve already made a comprehensive pre-nuptial agreement. In that case, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll have anything to fight over and so you probably don’t need to choose a divorce attorney.
That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use a lawyer for simple divorces. Many people get nervous during the divorce process and might need a professional to help them through it. And if you have children, it’s always a good idea to have a lawyer because it will help you to protect their interests.
2. Make sure you have a good lawyer
Even if you do need a divorce lawyer, you need to be sure you’re getting a good one. Many lawyers offer divorce services, but they may have little experience in the area and may be less than qualified to handle a tough divorce.
You’ll want to take a look at your lawyer’s background and experience. Make sure you’re confident your lawyer has the experience and knowledge to handle your divorce.
3. Be honest with your lawyer
Your lawyer will have to do a lot of work to get your divorce ready. And it could be a lot of work to deal with any problems that arise. So you’ll want to make sure that your lawyer has all the information he needs to do his job well.
Your lawyer will need to know about any assets and debts, as well as any other issues that might come up. He’ll need to know about any problems you might have, including:
- Any debts or financial problems
- Any drug or alcohol problems
- Any domestic violence issues
- Any mental health issues
- Any issues that could affect the children
- Anything else that might affect the divorce settlement
Your lawyer will also need to know about your financial situation. Many divorce lawyers charge based on how much work is involved for them, so your lawyer needs to know how much money you can afford to pay.
4. Give your lawyer the information he needs
Once you’ve told your lawyer what he needs to know, you need to give him the information he needs.
If your lawyer needs to look at financial documents, for example, give him a copy of them. If you need to sign any papers, make sure you sign them and send them back to your lawyer.
There are some things that your lawyer can’t do without your permission. For example, if you want to change your name after your divorce, your lawyer will have to file a petition with the court, but he can’t do it without your permission.
So make sure you let your lawyer know if you want to do anything like that.
5. Let your lawyer do his job
Your lawyer will have a lot to do dealing with your divorce. And he’ll have to do it in a very short amount of time. This means that your lawyer will have to do everything as quickly as possible.
If your lawyer has to spend time doing things you should be doing, it will slow things down and make things more difficult for him.
If your lawyer needs something, make sure you give it to him. If your lawyer asks you to sign or file papers, make sure you do it right away.
6. Keep your lawyer informed
Your lawyer will be working hard on your case. But you’ll also need to work hard.
You’ll need to keep your lawyer informed about any changes to your situation. This means you’ll need to tell him about:
- Any changes to your financial situation
- Any health issues
- Any other issues that might affect your case
You’ll also need to make sure that your lawyer has your current contact information.
7. Don’t make things harder for yourself
Your lawyer will be working hard to get your divorce ready. And you’ll be working hard to get things done yourself.
But there are some things you shouldn’t do that could make things harder for yourself.
A professional writer with over a decade of incessant writing skills. Her topics of interest and expertise range from health, nutrition and psychology.
