DIY Divorce

Probably the most crucial aspect of divorce is choosing a divorce lawyer; here's some of the qualities to look for:

• An expert in their chosen field
• Have the right approach
• Be consistent in their work

In these circumstances you will need a divorce attorney who has at least half their workload in this area and one that is able to act as a mediator. It also follows that you feel comfortable with them and feel confident they will serve you well.
Adversarial attorneys will use the hammer to crack a walnut approach which often happens when these cases go to court whereas an attorney who specializes in mediation will take a much calmer approach. Although there will be tasks you need to perform on your own, if you need to speak to your divorce lawyer, write down exactly what help you want from them.
Make sure you know exactly what you intend to ask and record the answers as each time you contact your lawyer there will be a charge involved so note times dates and durations of conversations. As all costs relating to law and legal advice are costly, try not to visit them at the office unless absolutely necessary; this can be achieved by using the phone or mail.
Your divorce attorney is just a resource for legal matters so do not try to get them personally involved as that is not their function; if you need emotional support there are others who can help with this. The behavior of your spouse, unless pertinent to the divorce, is of no concern to your divorce lawyer and will only distract them from the task at hand.
You really want your lawyer to know that you are in control and in charge of what is going on and that they are to help you with legal and technical issues and not to get your life straight. You are employing them for their experience but at the same time you need them to understand that it is your divorce and you want to make the decisions about how it is too proceed. You must also let them know that you expect copies of all correspondence to be sent to you for you own records and if you contact them by phone, you expect a reply within one working day.
Instead of hiring a lawyer, it may be far more cost-effective to use the lawyer just for information or advice on specific subjects like a marital settlement because that may be all the legal help you will need. In these circumstances you may only need to write down any issues you are unsure about and speak to your lawyer regarding those, and possible outcomes. Divorce lawyers can also help with marital settlements as well and do not need to be involved in anything more than this.

Alan Redman now lives with his dog, Columbo. An easier life choice than his ex wife.

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