Divorce Lawyer Consultation: Questions to ask
When meeting with a divorce lawyer for an initial consultation, it's beneficial to get as much details as possible. If you stop working to prepare and forget to ask about essential details, you might end up having to pay the lawyer to respond to those questions at a later time.
Attorney Fee Structure
The first question you should ask the divorce lawyer during the assessment has to do with her cost structure. Particularly, you would like to know whether the lawyer will bill you for each hour she invests in your case, including the time she spends answering your questions, or whether it's a fixed cost. Given that divorce procedures can often take years to complete, you should prepare for the financial implications.
Divorce Procedures
Every state has different treatments you and your lawyer need to follow to declare divorce. Although the length of time needed to complete a divorce will always depend on the complexity of your scenario, your lawyer needs to offer you with a quote 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 look for spousal support from the other spouse. In some cases, eligibility relates to the length of your marital relationship, whether you or your partner stays home to raise kids, or perhaps the inconsistency in profits between partners. For that reason, regardless of whether you are the partner looking for the alimony or have concerns about your liability for its payment, raising the concern throughout the initial consultation with your lawyer can offer DUI Attorney Kennewick WA you with insight into your potential liabilities as you continue through the divorce.
Child Custody
You ought to ask your lawyer what your possibilities are of obtaining custody of your kids. Considering that child custody concerns in some cases prolong divorce procedures, it's best to know which concerns are best to concede and which to challenge.
Dividing Marital Assets
A lot of state divorce laws provide an uncomplicated formula for assigning joint assets in between spouses. The formula differs for each state because state property laws will determine the ownership rights of each spouse. For that reason, it's essential to ask the divorce lawyer what the legal structure for splitting marital assets remains in your state.
For more information, contact:
Clearwater Law Group
5205 West Clearwater Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 734-8500