Retaining a divorce attorney requires careful consideration. When a marriage ends, spouses and their children often face a perfect storm of stressful decisions: new living arrangements, parenting schedules, and of course issues concerning property and money. Your attorney will inform you about the legal process, explain how the courts interpret the law and will help you tackle all the decisions.
Before retaining a divorce lawyer, we suggest asking the following questions to any potential attorney that you interview:
- As my divorce lawyer, what position or strategy will you use in my case?
- How long will it take to resolve my case?
- What is the breakdown of costs that I would receive from a divorce lawyer including a retainer, your hourly fees and others such as accountants, appraisers or psychologists?
- How often are your divorce cases resolved in the trial instead of mediation?
- What are other specialists available to you in negotiating on my behalf?
- What about the tax consequences of my divorce?
- How does your firm help me understand and identify issues regarding the division of a business or the value of a business?
- How does your firm help me understand and identify issues regarding the division of our real estate or other assets?
- What can I expect regarding how frequently you will communicate with me? How will I be notified of any developments in my case?
- Will I receive copies of documents filed with the Court, all communication with my spouse’s attorney and any other documents related to my case?
For additional information and resources on the Michigan Divorce Process, view our Michigan Divorce and Family Law Reference Guide.
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