Learn how to help your attorney achieve the most favorable divorce agreement possible without incurring excessive costs.
If you are considering divorce, it is absolutely vital to have an expert divorce attorney in San Dimas on your side. Your attorney’s help will be invaluable in helping to achieve a favorable divorce agreement, including fair provisions for division of assets, support, and child custody. The more complicated your case is, the more hours your attorney will need to dedicate to it, which will raise your costs. Fortunately, there are definitely things you can do to make your attorney’s job easier. Here are some tips that should help save your attorney time and save you money on your legal costs.
Be Prepared for Your First Meeting
At your first meeting with your divorce attorney in San Dimas, you should be prepared to present as complete a picture of your case as possible. Be completely honest and don’t hesitate to mention anything your spouse might try to use against you. This will help ensure your attorney is moving in the right direction with your legal strategy from the very start.
At a minimum, try to bring copies of any and all important financial documents, such as copies of your tax returns, pay stubs, and a detailed list of all assets and liabilities you may have individually and as a couple. Don’t forget assets belonging to your spouse that you may have claim to, such as a retirement account or pension. In the case of a custody dispute, bring any relevant documentation such as police reports or other evidence of unfit parenting. Also, be sure to bring copies of any legal paperwork you may have been served with already.
Organize Your Documentation
Simply dumping a pile of records on your attorney’s desk is not the most efficient course of action. Your attorney or their staff will have to spend time organizing the records and you will get billed for their time. Help your attorney by presenting your documentation in an organized manner, with everything clearly labeled and any loose pages stapled together.
Keep a Record of Events Affecting Your Case
It is often a good idea to keep a diary where you can document any important events that affect your case. For example, if you or your spouse moves out of the marital home, you would want to record the date as well as which assets were taken or left behind. Photos are an excellent way to document assets. Also be sure to record any incidents of domestic violence, threats, etc. If it turns out you need to appear in a divorce hearing, your records will help your attorney brief you for your testimony.
Don’t Use Your Divorce Attorney in San Dimas as a Therapist
At Kendall & Gkikas, we do care deeply about the well-being of each and every client and we want to understand the emotional background of each case when this has a legal bearing. However, if you need to talk about non-legal issues it would be best to do so with a friend or family member or with a certified therapist rather than with your divorce attorney in San Dimas.
Keep in Touch
At Kendall & Gkikas, we make a point of keeping clients updated on the progress of their divorce case every step of the way. You can help with this effort by always returning calls as promptly as possible.
