Keeping Your Focus in a Divorce—Don’t Spend Needless Dollars Venting
As a general rule, divorce lawyers only get paid one way—for the time they spend to complete your divorce. Some attorneys may charge a flat fee, but even those lawyers will draw the line if you continue to take up their time. When you are in the middle of a divorce, you can feel angry about a lot of things, and your attorney can feel like the perfect person to unload on—they’re on your side, right? You want them to know how this is affecting you, right?
Unfortunately, too much venting to your attorney can have significant financial consequences. So the bottom line—pick your battles and find friends or family members who are willing to give you an ear. Your attorney bills by the hour and the only thing he or she has to sell is time. Most lawyers will caution you about that up front, making certain that you understand that there will be certain minimal charges for taking a phone call or responding to an e-mail. But ultimately, you need to treat your relationship with your lawyer as a business relationship. Here are some additional tips:
- Don’t use your lawyer as a therapist—As much as possible, keep your discussions with your lawyer focused on legal issues. The best way to do this is to let your lawyer do the talking and keep your comments focused on responding to your lawyer’s questions or comments.
- Keep communications to a minimum and keep them focused—You probably don’t need to talk to your lawyer every day or even every week, unless you have complex custody, visitation or property issues. Before you contact your attorney, know exactly what you want to discuss. Prepare a list of your questions or concerns, and stick to the list. If you choose e-mail, keep the text focused and short.
Contact the Law Office of Len Conner & Associates
At the Law Office of Len Conner Associates, we offer a free initial consultation in all family law matters, including issues relating to divorce. Send us an e-mail or call our office at (972) 445-1500 or 972-445-1500 if you’re in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Or call us toll free at (877) 613-5800 for an appointment.
