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Orange County Family Law Attorney

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    • Mediation
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    • Property Division
    • Complex Divorce
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What Your California Divorce Lawyer Expects From You

You are here: Home / California Divorce Guide / Planning for a California Divorce / What Your California Divorce Lawyer Expects From You

Be prepared, organized and calm

Your lawyer is hoping you’ll be the ideal client: calm, businesslike, competent, and well prepared. “Ideal clients can control their emotions, are organized, are willing to work together with me to attain their goals, and are willing to listen to my advice — even if they don’t follow it all the time,” says Alton Abramowitz, past president of the AAML (NY) and head of the matrimonial practice at Cooperman, Levitt, Winikoff, Lester & Newman.

Your lawyer is hoping you’ll be the ideal client.

Your lawyer will expect to be paid on time and in full. If your financial situation is bad and getting worse, talk to your attorney immediately; he or she may be able to work out some kind of payment plan that works for you. If you’re broke because your ex cleaned out the bank account (or did something else equally irresponsible), you should tell your attorney about it right away. He or she can file motions asking the court to grant temporary orders for items such as child or spousal support, child custody, control of assets, payment of your attorney’s fees, etc. Temporary orders are meant to ensure that certain things do or don’t happen; if you suspect your divorce might get nasty, ask your lawyer about filing orders to protect you and/or your kids — financially and physically.

If you haven’t paid your bill because you think it’s unfair, speak to your lawyer about it. “If there is a mistake on the bill, the lawyer will usually be quick to correct it,” says Lee Goodman, a professional mediator and arbitrator in Northbrook , IL . If you aren’t satisfied after talking to your lawyer, Goodman suggests asking the judge in your case to review the bill. Another possible avenue is your local bar association; find out if they offer mediation or arbitration programs to settle fee disputes.

Beverly Pekala is a Chicago-based attorney and the author of Don’t Settle for Less: A Woman’s Guide to Getting a Fair Divorce and Custody Settlement (Doubleday). In her book, she lists five golden rules for being a good client. Here’s a synopsis:

  • Rule 1: Everything is not an emergency; your lawyer is not on call 24 hours a day.
  • Rule 2: Your lawyer is not a psychologist.
  • Rule 3: Communicate honestly with your lawyer.
  • Rule 4: This is not L.A. Law — don’t expect your lawyer to do something just because you saw it on TV.
  • Rule 5: Your lawyer didn’t create and can’t change the system.

According to Pekala, “Failure to follow these rules may result in your lawyer ‘firing’ you. Just as you can discharge your lawyer, your attorney can choose to stop representing you and withdraw from your case. This usually happens if you fail to communicate with your lawyer or consistently fail to follow her advice. It may also occur if you cannot or will not pay your bill.”

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Planning for a California Divorce

  • Before Your California Divorce
    • Planning for a California Divorce
      • Choosing the Right California Divorce Lawyer
      • Hiring the Right Attorney
      • What to Ask a Divorce Attorney Before You Hire a Firm
      • What Your California Divorce Lawyer Expects From You
      • What Your California Divorce Attorney Needs to Know
      • Are You Ready For Your California Divorce?
      • Ways to Protect Yourself During Divorce
      • What is a No-Fault Divorce?
      • California Uncontested Divorce
      • What is Divorce Compared to Legal Separation?
      • Divorce Attorney Alternatives: Represent Yourself or Hire a Paralegal?
      • Collaborative Divorce
      • California Summary Dissolution
      • Can I Get an Annulment?
      • Is There Common Law Marriage in California?
      • Do I Need to Live in California to Obtain a Divorce In California
      • Mediation vs. Collaborative Divorce vs. Litigation
    • What to Expect
  • The California Divorce Process
  • After Your Divorce
  • Divorce And Children
  • Support Issues in California Divorce
  • California Divorce Resources
  • Other California Family Law Issues
  • Divorce Guide Index

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Bohm Wildish, LLP
695 Town Center Drive, Suite 700
Costa Mesa,California 92626
Tel: 714-845-7033
Fax: 714-384-6501

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Our office serves Orange County, Irvine and Los Angeles areas, including: Beverly Hills, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Los Angeles, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Santa Ana and Tustin.

Copyright 2017 * Bohm Wildish LLP · California Certified Family Law Specialist *State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

The materials contained in this website have been prepared by Bohm Wildish, LLP for informational purposes only. The information contained is general in nature, and may not apply to particular factual or legal circumstances. In any event, the materials do not constitute legal advice or opinions and should not be relied upon as such. For more information, please read this disclaimer.