Top 10 Divorce Legal Mistakes

1. Believing your spouse will be fair and cooperative. Expect the worst, but allow yourself to be surprised.
2. Not asking appropriate questions, or signing documents without understanding them.
3. Having totally unrealistic expectations or demands regarding your case.
4. Withholding information from your divorce attorney, and/or dumping the complete case in her lap. You should not be a passive participant here.
5. Allowing emotions rather than logical thinking to rule your legal decisions. Knee-jerk responses are usually inappropriate. Give yourself time to calm down and think first.
6. Not double-checking facts and figures the other side, or even your divorce attorney, gives you. This includes any invoices from your law firm.
7. Expecting the legal system to be fair and see things from your perspective.
8. Allowing too much time to pass before enforcing a court order or agreed-upon support.
9. Being a hindrance - not a help - to your case. For example, it's not wise to annoy your divorce attorney by not paying her or pestering her ad infinitum.
10. Forgetting the tax ramifications of legal decisions. That's why having a separate financial advisor or, at the very least, seeing issues from another perspective helps immensely.

Questions To Ask When Selecting A Divorce Attorney

When searching for a divorce lawyer, friends or family members who have been pleased by legal services they've received are the best source of referrals. Some of the questions you'll want to ask any attorney you interview include:

1. What percentage of cases get settled out of court? Do you consider your legal style that of a litigator, negotiator, arbitrator, or mediator?
2. Is there a charge for the initial consultation? If so, how much? What is your hourly rate? And are invoices broken down into detail?
3. Can some research on my case be conducted by paralegal support, which is often less expensive than attorney rates?
4. How will state laws affect what I'm looking for in custody, support, alimony, and property division?
5. When is a retainer required? What's the amount, and is this money fully refundable in the event it's unused or you do not proceed with any litigation?
6. Are there other costs the legal firm bills for, including photocopies, messenger services, etc.?