What is collaborative law and how can I use it for my divorce?
Collaborative law is a relatively new concept in divorce law that allows divorcing spouses to avoid contentious disputes in court. In a collaborative divorce, you and your spouse will agree up front not to go to court, and you will work closely with your divorce attorneys and subject-matter experts to come to an amicable resolution on all of the key aspects of your divorce.
Who will handle my case and how will tasks be delegated?
Attorneys in every state have an ethical obligation to advise you of any conflict of interest. Still, you should ask the question. If the lawyer’s representation of prior or existing clients would limit the attorney’s ability to represent you, there is likely a conflict. For example, if you want to sue a hospital that the potential lawyer regularly represents, there would be a conflict. A conflict might also arise if the attorney you are interviewing has already been hired by a co-defendant in your case. Not all conflicts automatically disqualify potential counsel, but you must be fully aware of and understand the nature of the conflict before deciding whether to hire a lawyer in spite of it.
What Can You Tell Me About Child Custody?
When you have children with your spouse, and are unable to privately agree as to who will retain custody, it’s important to understand from the outset which factors are important to state judges when deciding which parent to award custody to. Therefore, you should ask your attorney what your chances are of obtaining custody of your children. Since child custody issues sometimes prolong divorce proceedings, it’s best to know which issues are best to concede and which to challenge. You might also ask about alternative dispute resolution like mediation or arbitration if you feel going to trial is something you'd like to avoid.
What is Your Hourly Rate?
Find out what the divorce attorney hourly rate is, what the up-front retainer will be, whether any portion of the retainer is refundable if it is not used, and how often you can expect to receive invoices that detail their hourly charges and expenses. Insist on a contract signed by you and the attorney clearly outlining the fee agreement before contracting with an attorney.
If you can think of more, add them to this list. Your divorce attorney annapolis md is your legal advocate during divorce. Without asking the proper questions, you won’t know how well they will be able to advocate for you.
Are There Ways to Cut the Cost of My Divorce?
Begin by not making the divorce lawyer annapolis md your very own private therapist. If you truly are concerned about keeping your legal fees down, use your attorney for legal advice and legal counseling only. Remember your legal counsel is a professional who will charge for his or her time. Use that time spent effectively and wisely and find empathy somewhere else. Do this by keeping track of the time spent on the phone or in court. Discuss immediately if you somehow find the charges not accurate.
After carefully weighing all of these issues and thoughtfully considering your needs, you should be able to make a decision on an appropriate divorce attorney. In the end, it may come down to just trusting your gut instinct and going with someone who you are comfortable with and who is a good fit for you.
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