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Family Law Attorney Amy Wirtz is trained
in collaborative approaches to resolving
divorce and domestic relations issues. She
can be reached at 440.363.1313 and
awirtz@skirbuntlaw.com.
Questions to Ask a
Divorce Lawyer Part One
Questions to ask
Each of the questions listed below is
designed to determine if you and a lawyer
are compatible.
1.
What is your hourly rate and minimum
cost per case?
2.
In what time increments do you charge
a client?
3.
Do you take retainers or charge a fee
for service?
4.
How often do you send itemized bills
to clients?
5.
What if I run behind on paying my
bill?
6.
Will I have to pay for my spouse’s
legal bills or will he or she have to pay
any of your expenses?
7.
Will expenses be taken out of the
initial retainer or billed directly to me?
8.
Will there be legal assistants or
paralegals working on my case? What rate do
you charge for his or her time? What kind of
services do you bill for assistant time?
Speaking to me on the phone?
9.
Which counties do you usually
practice domestic relations law in?
10.
What continuing education have you
had on family law issues?
11.
What is mediation? Do you recommend
clients try mediation? Are you a trained
mediator?
12.
Who is your assistant and how much
contact will I have with him or her?
13.
What are the various ways clients can
contact you?
14.
What is your policy on returning
phone calls?
15.
To which professional organizations
do you belong?
16.
Have you received the Ohio
Specialization in Domestic Relations Law?
(This is new in Ohio. There are many good
attorneys who have not yet elected to
receive this additional crediting. This
accreditation only signifies that the lawyer
passed a test and attended a certain number
of continuing education seminars which only
focus on family law and related issues.)
17.
Are you a graduate of any advanced
trial practice seminars?
18.
Will other attorneys be assisting you
in my case? If yes, ask how much each
attorney will charge and what he or she will
be doing.
19.
Are you a member of the Center for
Principled Family Advocacy or other group
that promotes alternatives to litigation?
How many cases have you handled through ADR?
Have you been successful in resolving the
cases outside of court?
20.
Are you trained in collaborative law?
Why would someone agree to participate in a
collaborative process versus going to court?
21.
Do you know what principled
negotiations are? How does this differ from
collaborative law?
22.
Do you have counselors and
psychologist that you work with?
23.
If my spouse will agree to a
“process”, is there a lawyer you recommend
he or she interview?
24.
What happens if my spouse and I agree
to everything but one issue?
25.
How many cases have you handled that
have actually gone to trial?
26.
How many cases have you handled in
front of this Judge__________.
27.
Do you have accountants you work with
to determine and clarify the taxable
consequences of the separation agreement?
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