5 Tips For Finding an Affordable Divorce Lawyer

There is so much to consider when getting divorced, from dividing marital assets, to spousal support, to child custody and support.

Divorce can also be an incredibly expensive process.This is especially true when it comes to hiring legal representation. In fact, divorce lawyers can take up the majority of the budget that you have set aside for divorce proceedings.

It is therefore not only important to find an attorney that is suitable and experienced for your particular case, but also to find legal representation that fits within your budget. This is why we have created a list of helpful tips for finding a cheap divorce lawyer.

Shop Around

It is important not to be impulsive when choosing a divorce lawyer, so don’t just go for the first attorney that you meet. Remember that you are not obligated to retain an attorney when you meet with them, or do you have to pay them anything unless you have agreed to do so. When meeting with an attorney, be sure to ask them about their fees and billing structure. A reputable attorney will be able to provide you with their fee schedule or hourly rate before you hire them. 

Some attorneys will offer flat-rate packages, particularly for “uncontested” divorces. With flat-rate packages, attorneys have an incentive to work more quickly and efficiently. However, this may not be the right move for everyone, particularly if your case could be dealt with at a lower cost on a per-hour basis.

With flat-rate packages, it is pretty straightforward to compare rates. Otherwise, it can be tricky to calculate the exact fee an attorney will charge (given that they are working on a per-hour basis). 

Therefore, it is important to check online reviews and consider word-of-mouth to ascertain the general cost of a particular attorney. After doing so, you should arrange initial consultations with the attorney to determine both their suitability for your case, as well as their hour rate and retainer fee (this is an upfront sum).

Explore Legal Aid and Family Law Clinics

For matters such as divorce and child custody, some cities and states offer legal aid services for lower-income residents. Others work with non-profit programs to offer low-cost, or free, family law clinics.

If you do not qualify for these programs, city and state websites often offer lists of reputable and cheap divorce lawyers. Make sure to look at your city’s website, or the website of the court where you will file, to find resources like these.

Explore Law Schools and Paralegal Programs

If you are unable to find any public legal clinics, the next step is to contact a law school or paralegal program. Many of these will offer clinics to help students gain experience working on everyday legal issues. 

These clinics are supervised by a licensed attorney who will review any legal documents that the students and paralegals prepare. Although these types of clinics will likely not be able to help you if your legal matters are highly complex, they can be a great alternative if you cannot find a divorce attorney that fits your budget.

Think About A DIY Divorce

Some people may be tempted to avoid looking for legal representation and handling the divorce themselves. However before thinking about this route, it’s worth considering the time that this will take, as well as how complicated your particular situation is.

If both parties agree on the most substantial issues involved in the case, then a DIY divorce from someone like 3Step, Divorce.com or Divorce Bob could be an affordable and relatively easy option. Some courts even offer simplified processes such as a “joint simplified” divorce. These can be quite quick and easy to accomplish, and will save both parties the cost of hiring an attorney. 

If you are unable to use a simplified divorce process, then another option is using an online divorce service

These services reduce the time spent figuring out which forms to file, how to file them, and in what order everything needs to be done. They guide you through the entire filing process and can save a lot of time. Many will also connect you with legal professionals who are able to answer your questions and review your forms for a reasonable per-hour or flat consultation fee. 

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How to Help Your Child Through Divorce Proceedings

Divorce is an unfortunate fact of life which takes place on a daily basis and it can be a very upsetting and emotional time for everyone involved. Most at risk throughout these proceedings are children and the separation of their parents can leave scars which can stay with children forever. The damage of a divorce on children can manifest itself in many different ways and it can very easily alter the course of your child’s life, if not managed in the right way.

If you are going through a divorce at the moment, here is how you can best help your child to come out of the process as unscathed as possible.

Everyone on Board

In order to manage your child’s emotions in the best possible way, you must ensure that everyone who is involved in these proceedings, has the child’s interests at heart. Regardless of what your relationship is with your partner, or soon to be ex partner, you must make sure that you are both on the same page regarding your child’s wellbeing. You may both agree to have your real-estate property named after your children as new owners through a quitclaim deed form. Doing this will not only lessen hassle of dividing assets during divorce but will give benefit to your heirs as well. It is also important that you hire excellent family lawyers who have a wealth of experience in divorces and can offer you excellent advice and support throughout the process.

 

Create an Open Environment

Children are not stupid and you should never treat them as such, they will know that something is going on and you should not hide the facts from them. This is not to say that you should expose your child to all that is going on but they should be aware of the reality of the situation. It is your responsibility as a parent that you create an open environment with your child that will make them feel comfortable asking the questions which they have in their heads. If a child feels as though they cannot talk about what is going on, they will have many unanswered questions, draw conclusions which may not be true and they could even push emotions down, something which will not be helpful for them.

Maintain Normality

Whilst a divorce is a completely abnormal situation, you need to do your best that your child is living as normal a life as you possibly can. Make sure that the school run remains the same, they still do the things that they normally would and general create as little upheaval as you can when it comes to your child’s home life. This is not always easy but if you want to best protect your child, you must try to aim for the most normal life for them as possible.

Don’t Air Your Laundry

Whether your relationship with your child’s other parent is amicable or aggressive, you must never speak badly about them in front of your child. Doing this not only sets a bad example but it also puts your child in the middle of both parents, something which can never end well. If you have ill-feelings towards your ex-partner then either keep it to yourself, or make sure that your child is not around when you are discussing it.

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