How Do You Choose an Attorney?
Assuming that you choose to be represented by legal counsel in your divorce action, the next question is how much will my divorce cost me? Because this is your family, your life and your money, only you know what is essential, what is important and what is unimportant to you.
You need to set the agenda once you retain an attorney. Your attorney will decide on the stategy and tactics to achieve your goals, or hopefully, will you tell you if they believe your goals are not achievable. Attorneys come in all shapes and sizes. Some are lazy and others will realize that vast amounts of money can be made from promoting litigation via court motions. You do not want a lazy attorney but neither do you want an attorney who will charge thousands of dollars in order to wage a battle in front of a judge just to get the same end result that could have been resolved by settling with your spouse.
As you begin your search for an attorney, make a list of questions to ask and schedule an appointment so that you can essentially interview the prospective attorney. You need to be comfortable with the attorney you choose so that you can speak openly and frankly with him or her. You also need your attorney to provide information to you about divorce procedure and strategy. Never worry about bothering your attorney. This is your case and your life. You need to be fully informed before you make any decisions!
Of course, cost is a concern for most people going through a divorce. This concern is often justified because in Connecticut, family law litigation can be very expensive. Most attorneys require a retainer up front. The amount of the retainer usually depends on the complexity of the case. For example, a simple divorce with no children and few marital assets will require a significantly lower retainer than a divorce involving real property, retirement and trust funds, and a bitter custody battle. Likewise, attorneys typically charge anywhere from $200-400 per hour. Be sure to ask whether you will be charged everytime you pick up the phone to speak to your attorney.
Excessive litigation costs are often the result of clients wanting to wage war against a cheating spouse because they are hurt and bitter. These costs may include the taking of depositions of family members and hiring a private investigator to capture photos of the cheating spouse in action. Although bombarding your spouse with hundreds of pages of discovery requests and numerous subpoenas may make you feel like you gained the upperhand in your divorce, in fact, it will only guarantee that a good part of your family's assets is delivered to the attorneys involved in the matter.
My recommendation: Do a cost-benefit analysis. Try to look at your divorce as a business transaction rather than a matter of the heart. Speak to your attorney about a logical and reasonable resolution to your case that is most cost-effective. The goal is to move on with your life and allowing your divorce to drag on for a year to fight over inconsequential matters is only going to hinder this goal.
You need to set the agenda once you retain an attorney. Your attorney will decide on the stategy and tactics to achieve your goals, or hopefully, will you tell you if they believe your goals are not achievable. Attorneys come in all shapes and sizes. Some are lazy and others will realize that vast amounts of money can be made from promoting litigation via court motions. You do not want a lazy attorney but neither do you want an attorney who will charge thousands of dollars in order to wage a battle in front of a judge just to get the same end result that could have been resolved by settling with your spouse.
As you begin your search for an attorney, make a list of questions to ask and schedule an appointment so that you can essentially interview the prospective attorney. You need to be comfortable with the attorney you choose so that you can speak openly and frankly with him or her. You also need your attorney to provide information to you about divorce procedure and strategy. Never worry about bothering your attorney. This is your case and your life. You need to be fully informed before you make any decisions!
Of course, cost is a concern for most people going through a divorce. This concern is often justified because in Connecticut, family law litigation can be very expensive. Most attorneys require a retainer up front. The amount of the retainer usually depends on the complexity of the case. For example, a simple divorce with no children and few marital assets will require a significantly lower retainer than a divorce involving real property, retirement and trust funds, and a bitter custody battle. Likewise, attorneys typically charge anywhere from $200-400 per hour. Be sure to ask whether you will be charged everytime you pick up the phone to speak to your attorney.
Excessive litigation costs are often the result of clients wanting to wage war against a cheating spouse because they are hurt and bitter. These costs may include the taking of depositions of family members and hiring a private investigator to capture photos of the cheating spouse in action. Although bombarding your spouse with hundreds of pages of discovery requests and numerous subpoenas may make you feel like you gained the upperhand in your divorce, in fact, it will only guarantee that a good part of your family's assets is delivered to the attorneys involved in the matter.
My recommendation: Do a cost-benefit analysis. Try to look at your divorce as a business transaction rather than a matter of the heart. Speak to your attorney about a logical and reasonable resolution to your case that is most cost-effective. The goal is to move on with your life and allowing your divorce to drag on for a year to fight over inconsequential matters is only going to hinder this goal.
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