It shouldn’t be a surprise that getting involved in a divorce, separation, or other legal matter can quickly become an expensive issue, especially when there is a lot of disagreement and distance between the parties involved.
This is because resolving disputes and protecting the interests of all parties involved requires an extensive amount of legal expertise and experience.
But, is there anything I can do to help limit the cost of my legal fees?
As it turns out, many law firms let you take advantage of a completely free initial consultation to help you decide the best route to take when dealing with your legal matters.
Complimentary Consultation
The initial consultation is a valuable opportunity for you to get a first impression of the firm and the lawyers working there. Take the time to meet the team and get an understanding of everyone’s role.
By preparing yourself for this consultation ahead of time, you can gain considerable insight into the legal process during this time. More importantly, you’ll also get a sense for whether or not the legal professional you are talking with is the right fit for your situation. It is important to find someone who you have a good impression of and who you trust to do an exceptional job with your case.
If you don’t feel that your answers were properly answered, you will have the opportunity to back out. The last thing you want is to find out that you and your lawyer aren’t a good fit once you have already invested many hours into the case. Maybe you find out that they aren’t experienced enough to deal with the specifics of your situation, or maybe you simply don’t agree with their methodology. Either way, the initial consultation is the time to determine the best path going forward.
Make sure you come to the initial consultation with an idea of what questions you need to ask. Collecting your thoughts, making notes about important details in your relationship with your spouse, and doing preliminary research will result in a much more effective use of the time than if you show up unprepared. Don’t expect the lawyer to be able to read minds and intuitively understand what you are thinking.
Consider All Available Resources
Even prior to your consultation, it is always a good idea to arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible. Your lawyer is there to separate the fact from the fiction and to prevent you from falling into any legal loopholes, but it is still important to be prepared.
The Internet is a great resource for knowledge. Question and answer sites are excellent for helping you to gain valuable insight from both experts and others who have experienced similar situations. Be aware that this information won’t necessarily suggest the best course of action. It isn’t wise to base your entire plan of attack on the suggestions you find online.
There are also many informational websites that are dedicated to this topic, as well as blogs on lawyer websites can share a great deal of useful information.
Note that laws can vary by region, so you will want to verify with a lawyer in your area whether or not regulations you read about are applicable to your situation.
Cutting Corners Can Be Costly
When it comes down to it, we all understand that we get value for value. Cutting corners on legal services to save a dollar here and there might turn out to be very expensive in the long run. Missing a step or being unprepared for an unexpected twist could result in you losing out on money or assets that could otherwise have been protected.
It’s hard to calculate the possible expense of a legal mistake. That’s where a lawyer can give you peace of mind. Adding the stress of the potential of a life-changing legal misstep at this time certainly won’t help to alleviate what is already an emotional and dramatic moment in your life.
I know Avvo.com is the best place online to find free legal advice. I use it all the time.