What You Should Expect From Your Divorce Attorney

Ask for written agreement

From the day you hire him or her, you and your attorney should have a clear understanding of what you will need and expect from each other. Ask for a written agreement that details the terms and length of your attorney-client relationship. If he or she won't provide one, find another lawyer.

After learning about your case, your lawyer should create a strategy for your divorce. Be aware that this plan may have to change along the way depending on what your ex and his or her attorney do.

Your lawyer should clearly explain all your options (again, these may change as your divorce progresses), offer advice regarding the best paths to follow, but respect your wishes if you strongly disagree with a course of action. If you find yourself in constant disagreement with your lawyer, either you've chosen the wrong person to represent you or you're being unreasonable. Take a close look at your motivations and actions to see if you're refusing your lawyer's advice for purely emotional reasons: for instance, you might be very angry with your spouse, and your attorney's suggestion doesn't satisfy your desire for vengeance.

Recognize that even a good attorney will sometimes have bad news for you: that your spouse won't budge on an important issue; that you'll have to give him or her money or other assets; or simply that your expectations are unrealistic, illegal, or not financially feasible.

You should expect your divorce attorney to return phone calls reasonably promptly (24 hours is reasonable if he/she's not on vacation), and to consult you before taking any major actions concerning your divorce.

You should also expect to feel frustrated or disappointed from time to time as your divorce progresses. Don't take it out on your attorney! He or she isn't a magician and can't always pull a great solution out of his/her metaphorical hat.

Finally, if you want to ensure that your divorce agreement reflects your goals -- and don't cost you an arm and a leg -- then stay involved with the process, answering your attorney's requests promptly, honestly, and completely.

Divorce