What Questions Should I Ask at a Divorce Consultation?

One of your first interactions during a divorce case will be your initial consultation with a law firm. For many divorcees, speaking to a legal professional is a new and daunting experience, so making sure you are prepared for your consultation can help a lot in relieving stress and anxiety. The best way to prepare is to know what to ask. Here is a list of common, useful questions to present to your divorce attorney.

Ask Questions About the Attorney’s General Experience

  • How many divorce cases have you handled? How many of your divorce cases have gone to trial? How many cases have you taken that have involved business valuations or large financial settlements?
  • Ask questions about how the law firm operates. Who at the firm should I call if I have other questions? What are your office hours? Who will be working with me on my case, and is it possible to meet them now? What does each member of the firm do? If my case goes to trial, who will handle that process? Asking these questions can help you become more familiar with the members of the firm and how each member can help you in your case.
  • Ask about costs. What is the average fee for a divorce case from beginning to end? Should I expect any extra costs? Do you charge a retainer, and what happens when it is used up?
  • Ask about the particulars of your case. How much will I be able to participate in the development of strategies regarding my case? How will the firm keep me up to date with new developments in my case? Do you foresee any major issues in moving forward with my divorce?

Contact an Experienced Colorado Divorce Attorney

Having a list of prepared questions helps give you foresight into the divorce process and will alleviate some of the stress and anxiety you might feel when preparing to speak to your divorce attorney.

The Denver family law attorneys at Divorce Matters design tailored action plans to help you achieve the best outcome through this difficult time.

The Benefits of Filing Bankruptcy before Divorce

The financial hit of divorce sometimes drives a couple to consider bankruptcy, and it can be complicated depending on the individual circumstances of your divorce to determine whether you should file bankruptcy before or after your divorce. While there are benefits to both, generally speaking, filing before your divorce can put you on more stable ground once your divorce is in motion.

If you and your spouse are on good enough terms to work through a joint bankruptcy, you will be able to have most of your joint debts addressed under that bankruptcy. This includes debts like car loans that cost too much, mortgages on homes that are underwater, medical bills and even your unsecured credit card debts. If you wait until after divorce to file for bankruptcy, and only one spouse files, the non-filing spouse will still be on the hook for debts.

What Type of Bankruptcy Do I File For?

Filing for Chapter 7 takes a much shorter time to complete than filing for Chapter 13. In Chapter 7, your debts will usually be discharged after a few months, whereas Chapter 13 can take three to five years. Depending on which you plan to file for, it can affect your decision to file before or after divorce.

Of course, every divorce is different and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to filing for bankruptcy when you are planning a divorce. However, the benefits can be great and can allow you to move forward with your divorce with less debt to divide, which simplifies the property division process in divorce.

Our Denver divorce attorneys help clients throughout Colorado with matters such as property division, including debts.