What should you ask a divorce attorney? The divorce lawyers Tarrant County at Hoppes Law Firm wants to give you the best advice possible on how to handle your divorce case. To help, we’ve put together a list of questions that our clients have asked their legal team, along with some sound answers.
1) What can I expect from my divorce proceedings?
This is a good question to ask in the beginning of your relationship with your lawyers. You want to know how long it will take, what needs to be done and if there are any foreseeable problems that will delay the process. If they cannot give you a clear idea about how this will progress, then you should consider looking for another lawyer since time is money in everything, including divorce proceedings.
2) How much do you charge?
You don’t have to disclose exact numbers when asking this but it’s good to have an idea of how much it might cost. Some lawyers charge by the hour while others may charge flat fees depending on the issue or case type. Also find out which method of payment is accepted since some may require that you pay up front while others will charge a percentage of the final settlement.
3) How much information do you need from me?
Make sure to have all your documents ready and organized before meeting with the divorce attorneys so they can get a clear idea of what’s going on in your life during this difficult time. If you don’t know where to start, ask them for a list of items or documents they’ll need so there won’t be any confusion or slip ups when filing paperwork.
4) Do we offer free consultations?
The lawyers should offer at least one free consultation session where you can meet with them and discuss your case. This is an for them to get to know you and to determine the next steps to take. It’s also a good opportunity for you to ask any questions or address concerns you might have about your divorce proceedings and case in general.
5) Do we offer flat fee options?
If you’re low on funds and want a cheap way out of your situation, then ask the lawyers if they offer flat fees for specific types of services. You may not get everything you want but it could be cheaper compared to hiring them by the hour. Of course there are some types of cases where this may not make sense so make sure to know what kinds of cases their flat fees apply to first before agreeing on anything with your lawyer.
6) How long until I can expect results?
This is another question to ask your divorce attorneys early on. They need to be transparent about their process and everything that they can do for you so there won’t be any confusions or misunderstandings later on. If the lawyer is not as helpful as you thought, then look for someone else who can better represent you with their quality of work and time spent with each client.
7) What payment methods are accepted?
Being able to pay for the various services shouldn’t be a problem if you handle things accordingly before meeting with them for a consultation. Make sure that they accept the payment method you have in mind so there won’t be any problems once it’s time to pay your bills after all legal proceedings have been finalized.
8) How long have you been practicing law?
You don’t have to ask this question directly but it’s important that you know how long the lawyers have been around before working with them. It’s only normal that you want to deal with professionals who are knowledgeable and capable of handling your case without problems or issues since they should have experience in dealing with cases similar to yours.
9) Do we handle both uncontested and contested divorces?
It’s important to know whether the divorce attorneys are able to handle both kinds of cases since there are many differences between each type. If your case may be contentious, then make sure the lawyer has dealt with these kinds of cases before so you can rest assured knowing they can get the job done properly even if there may be some issues along the way.
10) Can you explain the process to me?
Being as informed as possible is a must when going through a divorce since it can be very confusing and stressful at times, especially if you’re not ready to file for it just yet. The last thing you want is to create more problems because of something that could have been prevented had you known about it beforehand. Look for lawyers who are willing to explain everything in detail so there won’t be any surprises later on that may cost both of you time and money. Make sure to have all your questions ready so they can answer them one by one during your consultation session.
