Controlling Costs in a Divorce

Controlling Costs in a Divorce

One of the first questions we get asked by potential clients is “how much will this divorce cost?” It’s an important question to ask, but it’s a difficult question to answer.

There is a wide range of possibilities affecting legal costs from everything proceeds amicably without any glitches to both parties fight tooth and nail about everything with roadblocks thrown up at every turn. Where a party falls on this continuum drives the ultimate cost, and you only have control over what you do – not actions taken by the opposing party. So, what can you do to control the costs in your case? Metro Law and Mediation would suggest you start with these easy-to-follow tips:

1.         Follow the legal advice given by your attorney. This might seem like an obvious tip, but we do encounter clients from time to time who make choices against legal advice that are counter-productive for their case. As experienced legal professionals, the attorneys and staff at Metro Law and Mediation know clients won’t always like our advice, but clients hire us to protect their interests, so please help us do our job but taking our advice to heart.

2.         Be responsive and Be patient. Attorneys have an obligation to keep their clients informed, and that includes making sure your case is on track to meet deadlines. If you are asked to provide documents and don’t respond, we have to follow up with you, and those extra calls, letters, or email messages cost you extra money. On the other hand, calling us repeatedly for updates also results in a higher bill for you. Life changes are difficult, and it’s understandable for our clients to feel a wide range of emotions. The team at Metro Law and Mediation is here to help clients navigate this unfamiliar situation, and we want to do it as economically as possible.

3.         Stay organized. The more organized you can be, the more you help control your own legal costs. We are always happy to resend you paperwork and information on court dates, but the more work attorneys complete on the file, the more fees clients incur.

We recommend keeping a folder or notebook where you can keep everything we send to you in chronological order. If you are “paperless”, make sure your electronic device has a folder just for information relating to your case.  Another part of organization that helps tremendously is if documents you provide to us are in order. For example, sometimes clients bring us large stacks of documents, but the paperwork isn’t sorted in any way. You can save on your legal fees by sorting the documents before you give them to us.

4.          Breath Easy

Take a deep breath.  Sometimes client's get nervous when meeting or speaking with their attorney and will forgot some questions they had.  Having to contact your attorney numerous times simply because you forgot, can add up over time. Before your next appointment or telephone call, write down your thoughts and questions in advance of appointments or telephone calls.  You can even email your attorney your questions ahead of time - leaving the meeting as a time to have those questions answered.   All of these steps will help streamline the conversation in addition to giving you the confidence and information you need to make the process less stressful. 

At Metro Law and Mediation, we make is our priority to reduce the stress you are under and protect you and your interests during this difficult time.  We strive to make sure each and every one of our client’s is satisfied with our representation.  If you have any legal questions or would like to discuss your options, please contact us and we would be happy to speak with you.