Working with your Attorney to get the best results: Professional relationship with your Attorney during a divorce

Provide Your Attorney with Essential Information

When dealing with legalities in a divorce, cooperation is very important. Make sure you answer all questions truthfully. Find an attorney that you trust and are comfortable with. It is important that you feel comfortable sharing information with your lawyer.

Some things your lawyer may want to know are reason/s why you're getting a divorce, history of your marriage (any violent incidents), health history (if either of you has medical or psychological problems) and custody arrangements.

Your lawyer will also ask you about legal and financial information like separation, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, investments, assets, loans or liabilities. Remember to keep all documents safe in a properly labeled and systematized filing cabinet.

Use Discovery to Get at the Facts of Your Divorce

Discovery process can be formal or informal. It is informal when both parties are willing to provide the essential documents through their lawyers. It is formal if there is a use of legal tools to obtain the needed information like subpoenas, depositions, interrogatories, and motions to produce documents.

Informal discoveries are more simple than non-informal discoveries and take less time. However, informal discoveries only work when you, your ex and your attorneys cooperate in providing the documents.

Use Your Attorney to Work Out the Details of Your Divorce Agreement

You can save a lot of money if you negotiate a settlement without an attorney. However, if this is not possible let your attorneys take charge. They can consult you and your ex in negotiating the terms of your divorce and eventually come up with your divorce agreement.

Conclude Your Divorce: File the Divorce Decree

One or both of you may appear in court and the judge would sign your divorce decree or the final judgment of divorce after your lawyer submits your final divorce settlement agreement. After the judge signs the decree, it becomes a part of the court records. Remember to keep your copy in a safe place for documentation purposes.