Divorce
Lawyer Costs - 4 Costly Mistakes to Avoid
by Steven Carlson
The
overall cost of your divorce can be impacted by several
behaviors you may be able to control. When a marriage
dissolves there are several important topics that need
to be addressed and sorted out such as child custody
and visitation, division of property, and support. Recognizing
the following 4 behaviors and how to manage them ahead
of time may be able to help your divorce lawyer properly
gather the information he/she needs to put your case
together and can reduce your divorce costs at the same
time.
-
Having unclear objectives
- Being
overly enmeshed in your case
- Using
your lawyer as a therapist
- Expecting
justice in the courts
Having
unclear objectives
One of the biggest mistakes you can make at the outset
of your divorce is to not know what it is you hope to
accomplish. Before you begin filing or responding to
divorce motions, you would be wise to discuss your goals,
objectives, and what results you can likely expect with
your divorce lawyer. Having such a discussion with your
divorce lawyer can help reduce the chances of unnecessary
litigation, help you understand what you can likely
expect through your divorce, and what the costs may
likely be.
Being
overly enmeshed in your case
Divorce typically deals with topics that bring about
high emotions and intensity, which may result in a spouse
becoming overly indulged or enmeshed in his/her case.
When this happens, it is not uncommon for a spouse to
supply large amounts of irrelevant research material
to his/her divorce lawyer, which can drive up the costs
of attorney fees. Additionally, a spouse that is enmeshed
in his/her case, may begin micromanaging their divorce
lawyer's work, which can create more work for his/her
divorce lawyer and be counter productive. Setting clear
objectives and goals and knowing what to expect from
your divorce lawyer in advance can help reduce the tendency
to become overly enmeshed in your case.
Using
your lawyer as a therapist
Due to the high emotions that typically go along with
divorce, it is not uncommon for spouses to begin venting
or discussing problems they had in their marriage or
how they feel about the other spouse with their divorce
lawyer. Many times, these types of discussions are strictly
emotionally based, add no value to the client's case,
and are discussion better suited for a therapist, not
a divorce lawyer. Divorce lawyers are typically concerned
with facts, not feelings. Additionally, the time a spouse
spends in these types of emotional communications with
his/her divorce lawyer can add up in costs very quickly.
Before initiating communication with your divorce lawyer,
decide if the communication is strictly to vent or to
pass on worthwhile information on to him/her.
Expecting
justice in the courts
Spouses many times believe that if they can just have
their day in court, justice will prevail. Spouses who
believe that the courts are going to give them justice
are often misguided and end up extremely disappointed
with the results. Better results and happier divorce
endings are often accomplished through mediation and/or
stipulated agreements. When a judge makes a decision,
it is rarely a win-win decision for both spouses. To
manage your expectations of justice in the family courts,
you would be wise to consult your divorce lawyer to
help you determine what results you can likely expect
if your case goes to trial.
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©
2006 Child Custody Coach
Child
Custody Coach supplies information, online materials,
and coaching services to parents in the field of child
custody, namely, divorce, child custody and visitation,
child custody evaluations, 730 evaluations, parenting,
and all issues related to child custody and divorce.
"How
to Win Child Custody - Proven Strategies that can
Win You Custody and Save You Thousands in Attorney Cost!"
is a unique child custody strategy guide written by
The Custody Coach and made available by Child Custody
Coach in an easy to read, understand, and apply E-Book
format. Custody Match is an online consumer and family
law attorney matching service to help you in your search
for the right attorney for your divorce or child custody
case.
Custody Match can help you find the right family law
attorney, divorce lawyer, or child custody attorney
in your area.
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