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