Hiring a divorce and family law attorney is a big decision. You want to make sure that you are choosing the right lawyer for your unique situation. That’s why it’s important to ask questions during the first consultation. In this blog post, we will discuss seven questions that you should ask during your first consultation with a divorce and family law attorney.
How Does the Court Typically Rule on Issues Similar to the Ones in my Divorce?
This is an important question to ask, because it will help you understand how experienced this divorce and family lawyer is when it comes to handling divorce and family law cases. Additionally this question can help you gain insight on how familiar your attorney is with the judges in your county. Having an attorney that is knowledgeable of divorce and family laws in Nebraska and the judges in your area can be very valuable. They will be able to more effectively represent you by being able to come up with solutions to any challenges you may face and some inkling of how the judges might rule.
How Long Will my Divorce Take?
The length of your divorce will depend on a number of factors, including whether you and your spouse can reach an agreement, if children are involved, and the amount of assets there are. While your attorney won’t be able to give you the exact length that your divorce will take, by understanding your situation they can help you manage expectations.
What Does the Divorce Process Look Like?
Entering the divorce process can be very confusing, so it’s important to ask your attorney to explain it in detail. This will help you understand what to expect and how long each step of the process will take. Additionally, your attorney should be able to provide you with resources, such as books or websites, to help you better understand the divorce process. They will also be able to inform you of what paperwork will be required and they can help you fill it out.
What Are My Divorce Options?
The first thing to know when facing a divorce is that there are a number of different divorce options available to you. It’s important to discuss all of your options with your attorney so that you can make an informed decision about what is best for you and your family. Some of the different divorce options available to you are contested/litigated divorce, uncontested divorce, mediation, and collaborative divorce.
What is Your Firm’s Billing Process?
You will want to ask your attorney about their firm’s billing process so that you can understand how much the divorce will cost. It is important to find out if the attorney offers a payment plan. This is important, because you want to make sure that you are able to afford the cost of your divorce. At Nebraska Legal Group we charge a consultation fee of $250 and bill at an hourly rate. For an attorney to begin work on your case, a retainer fee is required. These vary based on the complexity of the case but generally start at $3,500 and go up from there.
How Will We Communicate With Each Other?
It’s important to ask your attorney how they prefer to communicate because you want to make sure that you are able to get in touch with them when you need to. Additionally, it’s important to find out how often the attorney will be available to answer your questions or if there is paralegal available to you should you not be able to reach your attorney. You should also ask about the attorney’s policy for returning phone calls and emails. At Nebraska Legal Group, we understand that our clients have busy lives, so we offer a number of different ways to communicate, including email, text messaging, phone calls, and video conferencing.
Based on What I’ve Told You, Which Parenting Plan Might be Best for my Situation?
Whether you are getting divorced and have children or need to modify your parenting plan, your attorney should be able to give you an idea of what parenting plan might work best for you after understanding your situation. This is important, because it will help you understand how the divorce will affect your children and what you can do to minimize the impact. Additionally, your attorney should be able to provide you with resources to help you better understand the divorce process and how it will affect your children.
By asking these questions during your first consultation, you will be able to get a better idea of what to expect from your divorce and family lawyer and whether they will be the right lawyer to represent your divorce and family law case. This will help you understand the process and make informed decisions about your divorce.
At Nebraska Legal Group, we understand how difficult this time is for you and we are here to help. Our experienced divorce and family law attorneys can answer your questions and help you understand the process. We offer a free consultation, so please contact us today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you through this difficult time.