When divorcing spouses seek the legal counsel of divorce lawyers, they enter a relationship as a client with certain responsibilities.
For them to receive the best outcome in their divorce, it is important for clients of divorce law firms to understand the role that their lawyer will play in the process, as well as what a client is expected to be.
- Informed - For any client to proceed effectively through their divorce process, it is essential that they research the process, know what will happen, and discuss it in detail with their divorce lawyer. Clients are responsible for reading and responding to all correspondence sent by their lawyers, staying focused throughout the process, and asking questions as necessary to keep themselves involved and up to speed.
- Organized - The second part of being informed is staying organized throughout the process. Clients of divorce law firms should keep copies of paperwork as necessary, fill out and return documents as required, and when there are questions, keep a list so they are not overlooked and can be discussed during the next call or meeting with the lawyer. Clients should collect copies of all documents and correspondence, including those from their spouse’s divorce attorney, in a folder that they bring to legal appointments so it is always available at these times.
- Honest - Complete honesty is essential when working with a divorce attorney. The relationship between client and divorce attorney is one that is built on trust, as the attorney can only offer guidance according to the information they are given. Clients who do not disclose the truth are usually found out anyway and this can negatively affect their case, not to mention being a waste of time and money.
- Decisive - Clients must also understand that while their divorce lawyer is there to advise them, lawyers cannot make decisions for them. As hard as it can seem sometimes, the client themselves must weigh that advice with their own assessments, then make decisions that seem the best to them. Divorce lawyers should never tell their clients what to do.
- Trusted - Although decisiveness is essential to the process, clients of divorce law firms should also have enough trust in their attorneys that they are comfortable sharing honest personal information with them and trust that the advice they are giving is worthwhile. Clients should also be able to trust their divorce attorneys to make professional and procedural decisions for them if necessary, too.
The partnership between a divorce lawyer and their client is one that involves an expert providing professional advice to a client who must make some important and informed decisions.
The process is easiest when clients understand how to handle their role in the process and that doing so effectively will make things easier for both parties.