| There are several ways in which you can | | | | telephone. Telephone communications can be |
| communicate with your divorce lawyer, but | | | | very effective, especially when you or your |
| some methods may be more effective than | | | | attorney have a quick question. Such |
| others. When a marriage dissolves there are | | | | communication is quick and timely. |
| several important topics that need to be | | | | Additionally, the time spent on the telephone |
| discussed and sorted out such as child | | | | is the most traceable form of communication. |
| custody and visitation, division of property, | | | | The time spent on the phone may be recorded |
| and support. Communicating effectively with | | | | on your phone bill and should be reflected |
| your attorney about such issues will help | | | | accurately on your attorney bill. However, |
| your lawyer properly gather the information | | | | problems may arise when more than a couple |
| he/she needs to put your case together and | | | | questions need to be covered. Long telephone |
| can reduce your attorney fees at the same | | | | calls can be subject to distractions and |
| time. | | | | retaining large amounts of information can |
| | | | become an issue. |
| In-Person | | | | |
| | | | Fax |
| Meeting with your attorney in-person when | | | | |
| there is an extensive amount of material to | | | | Communications with your attorney via fax can |
| go through is often a wise choice. When you | | | | be very useful. For example, when a lengthy |
| meet with an attorney face-to-face there is | | | | document needs to be reviewed or if your |
| less chance for distraction and it is more | | | | signature is required on a document (and a |
| likely you will have the attorney's undivided | | | | faxed copy of your signature is acceptable), |
| attention. Any material you or your attorney | | | | faxes can save you an unnecessary trip to |
| may have can be reviewed and any questions | | | | your attorney's office or the wait time |
| can be addressed. Each party will have an | | | | associated with mailings. Like the postage |
| equal opportunity to discuss and cover any | | | | fee for a mailing, there may be a cost |
| important details. Additionally, the amount | | | | associated with the fax, such as the call |
| of time spent in an in-person meeting is | | | | charge or the time a person in your |
| traceable and should be reflected accurately | | | | attorney's office had to stand in front of |
| on your attorney bill. | | | | the fax to send or receive documents. |
| | | | |
| E-mail | | | | Mailing |
| | | | |
| Assuming your attorney checks his/her e-mail | | | | Communications with your attorney via mail |
| regularly, email communications with your | | | | can be very effective when a reviewing of a |
| attorney can be very effective, especially if | | | | particular document is not extremely urgent. |
| a response is not needed immediately or an | | | | Additionally, any serious issues or requests |
| attachment needs to be sent. Unlike faxes, | | | | you may need to make upon your attorney may |
| there is usually no charge to receive an | | | | be best done in writing. Mailings are a |
| e-mail. However, there will be a cost for | | | | common way attorney's keep their client |
| your attorney to review and respond to your | | | | informed or on copy of all filings and |
| e-mail. Therefore, it is extremely important | | | | communications with opposing counsel. |
| to keep your e-mail concise and to the point. | | | | Mailings are easy to organize and typically |
| This is often a difficult adjustment for | | | | easy to manage. |
| those who have a tendency to write wordy | | | | |
| e-mails. Further, depending on how savvy your | | | | There are several ways in which you can |
| attorney is with technology, he/she may spend | | | | communicate with your divorce lawyer and |
| more time in an e-mail communication than if | | | | choosing the right method can significantly |
| the message were communicated via phone or | | | | enhance your communication with him/her. When |
| fax. Further, the amount of time an attorney | | | | a marriage dissolves there are several |
| actually spends in an e-mail communication is | | | | important topics that need to be discussed |
| virtually untraceable, so you will want to | | | | and sorted out such as child custody and |
| closely monitor your bill to make sure the | | | | visitation, division of property, and |
| charges are reasonable. | | | | support. Communicating effectively with your |
| | | | attorney about such issues will help your |
| Telephone | | | | lawyer properly gather the information he/she |
| | | | needs to put your case together and can |
| One of the most common forms of communication | | | | reduce your attorney fees at the same time. |
| you may have with your attorney may be via | | | | |