How to Reduce Attorney’s Fees During Divorce

 Posted on January 05, 2021 in Family Law

Divorce is expensive and anyone going through it usually looks to cut costs any way they can. Much of the cost of divorce stems from court fees, mediation costs, and other expenses. Still, there is no denying that your attorney fees will also contribute to the cost of divorce. You should work with an attorney when getting divorced, as legal representation will ensure that you receive a fair settlement. However, the below tips can help you reduce the attorney fees you pay so you can lower the cost to some extent.

Respond to Your Lawyer Promptly

Throughout your divorce case, your lawyer will need to contact you for a variety of reasons. They may ask you to review pleadings, or need additional facts to help with your case. If you do not respond right away, your attorney may have to spend time calling you regularly and trying to track you down. The more your lawyer has to contact you, the more fees they will likely charge. Responding to your lawyer promptly will not only keep costs down, but also ensure that you do not miss any important deadlines in your case.

Provide Discovery Documents Quickly

Discovery is a phase most divorce cases go through. During this stage, each side will ask the other party for information such as financial documents and when they do, you are obligated to provide them with it. Discovery is a very important aspect of any divorce case, and it is likely that you have information that your lawyer does not.

Just as you should respond to your attorney’s phone calls and emails promptly, you should also provide them with anything they need for discovery as soon as possible. If you do not, it could severely hurt your case, and you could incur more attorney’s fees due to the delay.

Listen Carefully to Your Lawyer

It is extremely difficult to go through a divorce. You will likely need to talk about it with someone, particularly if the divorce is a contentious one. However, you should limit what you say to your lawyer to only the legal issues. If your lawyer calls you, it is likely to talk about a legal issue in your divorce, such as child custody or property division. Stay focused on the topic and do not spend too much time talking about everything your ex has done to make you angry. Anything you can do to minimize phone conversations will also reduce the bill you receive from your attorney.

Our Illinois Divorce Lawyers can Help with Your Case

When going through a divorce, it is important to work with a family lawyer that will ensure your rights are upheld and help you secure the fair settlement you deserve. At the Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio, our skilled Hinsdale divorce lawyers have the experience necessary to assist with your case and help you keep what is most valuable to you. Call us today at 630-920-8855 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help with your case.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050k503.htm