Share:

The lawyers at Arnold Law Offices know that divorce is an emotionally trying and complex process—one that can make even the most confident individuals uneasy. While many people think that the divorce process starts with the first meeting with their divorce lawyer, it actually begins once you make your decision to get a divorce. Our Pell City, AL, team encourages clients to write down all of their questions and concerns, and to come to the initial consultation prepared for some answers.

Top 3 Questions To Ask Your Divorce Lawyer

1. How Are Your Fees Structured?

Ask whether your attorney bills by the hour or by the case. If they bill by the hour, it can mean that every moment is accounted for, from the time spent answering your phone calls to time spent preparing and filing petitions with the family court. This can get extremely costly, so if you suspect that you and your spouse will have a hard time agreeing to the terms of the divorce, it might be in your best interest to work with an attorney who charges a fixed rate.

On the other hand, if you and your spouse have already worked out a settlement and custody arrangement, then all you need to do is sign the paperwork and have a judge finalize it. In this case, working with a divorce lawyer that charges by the hour could be the most cost-effective approach.

2. How Long Do You Expect The Process To Take?

divorce lawyerThe length of your divorce process depends on the complexity of your situation. An experienced divorce lawyer should be able to provide you with an estimated timeline based on your goals for divorce and your current relationship status with your soon-to-be-ex. For instance, if you and your spouse are on the same page regarding property division, support orders and child custody, the divorce may be over with within a few short months; however, if the both of you fight over every aspect of your divorce and refuse to negotiate, the whole process can take a year, if not longer.

3. How Can You Help Me Achieve My Divorce Goals?

An experienced divorce lawyer should be able to hear your goals for your divorce and develop a strategy outline during that initial consultation. If you hope to gain full custody of your children, receive a sizeable settlement and have the whole process finalized within six months, your attorney should be able to provide you with some basic steps that you need to take in order to make that happen. Nothing about your divorce should be done on a whim; every move should be calculated in advance with the intention of achieving a single purpose.

At Arnold Law Offices, our Pell City divorce lawyers are here to help you navigate the dark waters of divorce. Divorce can be scary and overwhelming, but with an experienced legal team on your side, it doesn’t have to be. To schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys today, call (205) 338-6565 or visit our website.

tracking