Hiring an Attorney
Alimony attorneys are likely to handle other family cases. Alimony attorneys will know the state laws regarding alimony and divorce. This is especially important since the laws change from state to state, and they are difficult to define. There are certain steps one should take when they are looking to hire an alimony attorney. Consulting with an alimony attorney will give an individual an idea of the likelihood of being awarded alimony, as well as the likelihood of being forced to pay it.
It may be a good idea to meet with several alimony attorneys before deciding on one. Many alimony attorneys will offer a free consultation to hear one's particular situation and discuss the steps that would be taken in family court. Since there are so many ways that an alimony request can end, a good alimony attorney should discuss many some of the many possibilities with their potential client.
Having an alimony attorney is especially important if the relationship between the spouses is hostile and there is a large amount of money or assets at stake, although property division is not considered to be a part of alimony. An aggressive alimony attorney can work hard to try to obtain or avoid alimony payments for the client.
There are certain questions that should be asked when an individual is consulting with an alimony attorney. Asking how much experience an alimony attorney has is important. Alimony attorneys without a lot of experience will probably not be as good as ones that have extensive experience, although this is not always the case. Finding out the outcome of past cases that the alimony attorney handled is also a good idea.
When speaking with an alimony attorney, one should find out an estimate of the time and expense that would be involved. Some alimony attorneys will charge on a sliding scale, others might charge a flat fee for every billable hour. If an alimony attorney charges a large amount of money for each billable hour, finding out how an estimate of how long the case should take is very important.
An individual should hire an alimony attorney if they can afford it. They also should hire one if receiving or avoiding alimony payments are very important to them. Many people choose to hire family lawyers even if they do not expect to be suing for alimony. A family lawyer should still answer any questions that one has about alimony.
NEXT: What You Should Know About Court Legal Representation
