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3. Don’t Use Your Attorney to Negotiate a Division of Personal Items
Arguing about which party deserves
blue sofa or bread maker is not a good use of attorney’s fees. As much as possible, you should try to resolve these issues with your spouse. Ideally, if you and your spouse have already separated, you could divide these items by agreement and exchange them before case has been completed.
Then, when it is time to finalize divorce term in agreement and/or Final Decree, document would simply state that each party keeps all personal effects (furniture, clothing, electronics, appliances, kitchen equipment, etc.) in that party’s possession. This can save a great deal in fees by avoiding debates over property that has very little market value.
4. Don’t Throw Away Dollars Trying to Save Nickels
This is extremely important. People will often be extremely frugal about hiring an attorney and think they are saving a lot of money by hiring a lawyer for a small flat fee, or hiring someone who is not very experienced but will work cheaply.
This is a mistake.
Your goal should be to reach a reasonable settlement as quickly as possible. In order to reach this goal you will need an effective lawyer who sincerely shares that objective with you. That lawyer will then use his experience and skills to help you reach that objective.
But notice that I said “reasonable” settlement, not just any settlement. If other side cannot be convinced to settle case on reasonable terms it is imperative that your lawyer be skillful and confident enough to effectively try your case.
Someone who is learning on job, or is simply unprepared, can cost you a great deal of money. So don’t cheat yourself out of dollars in an attempt to save nickels.
