Selecting A Divorce Lawyer Archives - Page 2 of 3

Tips on Dealing with Your Divorce Lawyer [And Why it Matters]

How To Get The Best Outcome From Your Divorce Lawyer

So, you have selected your divorce lawyer. Here are some tips for how to deal with him/her to hopefully achieve the best outcome possible.

Be Candid and Honest – Don’t ever leave your divorce lawyer in the dark. Try to be completely open about all the relevant facts whether they are good or bad. Disclose all assets and debts. Don’t try to hide assets. Honestly complete the required Financial Disclosure Affidavit. [Here is a link to an article about the importance of properly completing your financial affidavit.] If in doubt about anything bring it up to your lawyer! Remember that all conversations with your lawyer are confidential.
Actively Participate with your Divorce Lawyer – Fully cooperate with your divorce attorney and the paralegal(s). Become part of your team. Help him/her by providing requested documents and information as timely as possible. Your fees will rise if the lawyer has to repeatedly remind you to provide information. Don’t wait to the last minute either. You want your lawyer to have plenty of time to review it all and discuss with you any questions. Remember that how you communicate with your lawyer

Blast From The Past: 10 Tips To Cut Your Attorney Fees

Blast from the past 13 years Ohio Family Law Blog

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: Here is one of my favorites posts about attorney fees from back on August 8, 2009! The advice rings as true now as it did then…We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

Tips To Reduce Attorney Fees And Save On Divorce Costs

I would like to share some constructive fee-cutting suggestions for you to consider implementing after you have done your “due diligence” in selecting the right attorney for you and your issues. Many of the cases I have handled over the last 30 years are family law matters which are engagements typically based upon the number of hours spent in the representation. The amount of time to complete these cases varies based upon many factors, including the nature of the issues, contentiousness of the parties, and the cooperation level existing between both counsel.

Recently, I have been asked by several clients what they can do to help reduce their attorney fees. Certainly, this is an excellent question especially with money being so tight and all of us having to deal with our poor economy. Each attorney would … Read More... “Blast From The Past: 10 Tips To Cut Your Attorney Fees”

Blast From The Past: Divorce Lawyer: Should I Hire a Male or Female?

PUBLISHER’S UPDATE: Here is one of my favorite divorce lawyer posts from back on January 5, 2013! The advice rings as true now as it did then…We have a ton of interesting articles in our archives of the Ohio Family Law Blog. Use our Search tool and enjoy a few oldie but goodies!

How Gender Of Your Attorney Will Have Very Little Impact On The Final Outcome Of Your Divorce

There are many factors to consider when selecting your divorce or custody lawyer. One of the common concerns is whether or not a divorce litigant will be better off having a male or female divorce lawyer representing him or her.

Some people think that if they want an “aggressive” divorce lawyer, they need a male; but if they want someone who is “compassionate,” they should hire a female divorce lawyer. Should the lawyer be a feisty “take no prisoners” divorce lawyer or does it make sense to have a “nice person” approach in the courtroom? I’ve heard some men say that they would prefer to have a woman represent them because an aggressive female attorney can soften the harshness of husband’s arguments against his wife. For example, a male … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Divorce Lawyer: Should I Hire a Male or Female?”

New Year, New Divorce? Things to Consider First!

Experts say that January is the most popular month of the year for couples to file for divorce in Ohio. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), it is common for couples to put off their divorce plans until after the first of the year. Even though many couples are struggling with their marriage before the holiday season, they tend to push back getting a divorce in order to make the holidays more enjoyable and memorable for their kids.

According to Cathy Meyer, who founded DivorcedWomenOnline.com and is a certified divorce consultant stated, “Dissatisfied husbands and wives begin searching for information on divorce immediately after the holidays”. She has experienced a huge increase in page views and searches the day after Christmas. People start looking for information before the New Year starts, but they cannot do much until the attorneys are back in the office, making January 12-16 the magic week for filings.

Courtney Stovall, founder of BounceBack.com, says that while it may be important to realize popular times for divorce filings, one should not ignore the heartbreak in the off months. “Statistically, sure several studies have come out that show that January has the … Read More... “New Year, New Divorce? Things to Consider First!”

Divorce Lawyer: Should I Hire a Male or Female?

How Gender Of Your Attorney Will Have Very Little Impact On The Final Outcome Of Your Divorce

divorce There are many factors to consider when selecting your divorce or custody lawyer. One of the common concerns is whether or not a divorce litigant will be better off having a male or female divorce lawyer representing him or her. Some people think that if they want an “aggressive” divorce lawyer, they need a male; but if they want someone who is “compassionate,” they should hire a female divorce lawyer. Should the lawyer be a feisty “take no prisoners” divorce lawyer or does it make sense to have a “nice person” approach in the courtroom? I’ve heard some men say that they would prefer to have a woman represent them because an aggressive female attorney can soften the harshness of husband’s arguments against his wife. For example, a male attorney criticizing a wife’s choice not to work outside the home can appear cruel or attacking, but those arguments made by a female attorney could score points in a less offensive manner.

The true answer to this quandary is that there isn’t one personality type or gender that is right for every custody or … Read More... “Divorce Lawyer: Should I Hire a Male or Female?”

The Lawyer You Choose May be More Important Than You Think…

This represents the third collaboration between Psychotherapist Donna F. Ferber, LPC, LADC, and myself. We both had remarked to the other about the important role that the therapist and attorney play in a divorce proceeding. Donna suggested that we both write about our perceptions on that subject. Instead of each of us writing about the merits of our own profession, we switched roles. I wrote about the importance of therapy during a divorce and Donna addressed considerations for picking a good divorce attorney. We hope this perspective provides the reader with additional information and insight regarding the need for professional support during this challenging and life-changing experience. Be sure to spend time exploring the excellent articles she has written. Her insights are terrific! Donna, as in the past, the collaboration was a lot of fun!

Here is her article:

Most women take more time picking out a winter coat than a divorce attorney. You wouldn’t think to buy the first coat you try on and yet many hire the first lawyer they meet with! Given that divorce costs are more in line with a new car than a winter coat, it is in your best interest to make sure the … Read More... “The Lawyer You Choose May be More Important Than You Think…”

What to Bring to Your First Meeting with a Divorce Attorney

firstmeet Obtaining a divorce or dissolution is a process which often needs to be broken down into stages. Once you have reached the stage when you know that the marriage is “over”, you will need to then start the process of finding a divorce lawyer. Don’t overlook the importance of this step! There are a lot of divorce lawyers out there and finding the “right” one for you can be critically important. To read our suggestions about that subject click here to read the first part of our article about how to select a divorce lawyer and click here to read the conclusion of that article.

It is always a good idea to interview several lawyers. So, once you have the appointment scheduled, what should you consider bringing? Being prepared for that initial conference is important. Recognize that you may be nervous or emotional, so having a list of all your assets, liabilities and questions is a must.

Depending upon your issues and the facts of your case, here is a list of items to consider bringing to that initial meeting:

Prenuptial Agreement – a copy of yours if you signed one;
Pay Stubs – try to bring at least the

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