Having a family law attorney on your side during a divorce can save you a lot of heartache, time, and money. However, there are many things you can do to make sure you are getting the most out of working with your attorney. An experienced attorney will be happy to advise you on approaches and solutions, but what can you do that might expedite the process? These 6 tips may help.
Hire an attorney who will be available to you
When you’re going through a divorce or another family law issue, it’s important to have someone on your side who is willing and able to help you through the process. If you feel like your attorney doesn’t answer your calls or emails, that's not a good sign. It may be time to look elsewhere for representation.
Write down everything you can think of
This may seem obvious, but it's important to write down all your questions before meeting with an attorney. This way, you won't forget anything important and you'll have time to reflect on all of your concerns before speaking with an attorney about them.
Ask your attorney questions and make sure you understand the answers
Family law attorneys can be helpful in guiding you through the process, but it's important to ask questions and make sure you understand what is happening. The more information you have, the better equipped you will be to make important decisions about your future. Be sure you are comfortable with what your attorney is telling you — especially when it comes to money matters.
File timely and organize responses to any paperwork served on you
If possible, keep all of your documents together in one place so they are easy to find when needed by both yourself and your family law attorney. Also, if possible provide copies of any relevant documents instead of originals whenever possible because they will be easier to file or scan than original documents that need filing at the courthouse or other official office location.
Maintain open communication with your attorney
Communication is key when working with attorneys; if there’s something important that needs discussing, don’t wait until after hours or on weekends to do so. Communicate clearly and calmly when discussing matters related to your case and other matters affecting you personally or professionally. It’s also easy to want to hide things from an attorney because you think it will make them less likely to represent you if they know all the details. But keeping secrets can undermine your case and get in the way of getting what you want out of divorce proceedings. Honesty is always the best policy when dealing with attorneys, so tell them everything that might affect their ability to represent you properly.
Don't expect your attorney to solve all of your problems
Family law attorneys are great at what they do, but they are not miracle workers. They cannot control how quickly documents are processed by the court or how long it takes for an opposing party to respond to requests for information. You're responsible for doing your part in the legal process. If you don't complete everything you need to do, then your case will not move forward as quickly as it could and there may be delays or other issues that arise as a result of this.
Based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, The Law Office of Deidra N. Haynes believes that the client always comes first.
Address: 7007 N. Graham Road, Suite 102, Indianapolis, IN, 46220
Phone: (317) 982-7396
