Competent legal assistance during a family law matter is a given benefit. Competent legal assistance is expensive.

The following are presented as tips to saving charges while dealing with your attorney. Please use the email link at the end of the document if you have any questions, suggestions or additions.

General

Phone Calls

Discovery

Perspective and Emotion

General

The fee you are charged for legal representation will be based upon a number of variable factors.

The intent of this section is to discuss the partnership between you and your attorney. A positive and constructive partnership can help reduce the legal fees you pay.

There are many ways you can control the cost of your case.

People who forcefully participate in their case, and venture to learn the procedure in which they are embroiled, can lower the cost of their lawsuit by a sizable amount.

Phone Calls

If you pick up the telephone to call your attorney each time a question occurs to you, you produce added expense.

We suggest making a list of 5 to 10 questions. Make one phone call to cover the multiple items.

Most attorneys charge a minimum for a phone call. Line up your questions and get the most bang for your buck.

Email or FAX your list of questions to the paralegal or legal secretary. They might be able to handle some of the non-legal questions, thereby lowering your costs.

Discovery

This is the exchange of information with the other side. Discovery is time consuming and expensive.

You need to collect and collate various documents such as canceled checks, tax returns, various types of written communication, utility bills and charge card statements.

Start the procedure of gathering, organizing and sorting your documents and information as soon as possible.

Make your own copies of all the material and provide them to your attorney. Law firms doing photocopies is an expensive proposition.

Perspective and Emotion

High cost items in family law:

Attitude and objectivity can encourage a rapid resolution of your case, reducing the cost of the divorce proceeding.

There are probably many issues encompassing the reason of your family law issue. In all likelihood, you are feeling the full complement of negative human emotions.

Make the Herculean effort and don’t focus on inflicting punishment through the legal system. No one wins except the billable hours of your attorneys.

When both parties retain perspective and have a rational idea of what is fair and reasonable, legal fees are reduced dramatically.

Both spouses must forgive and forget differences and past injustices.

The cost for not forgiving and forgetting is a long, expensive and painful divorce proceeding.

Two expressions that do not serve you:

When child custody is involved, the emotions run at a fever pitch. Find a space where you can look at the facts from a realistic standpoint.

When child custody is involved it is a long term problem.

Child support can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the facts of your case.

When child custody is involved, make sure that your attorney has expertise in this important area of family law. This alone can save you tens of thousands of dollars in the long run.

The kids need both of you.

Do what is best for the children.