Law/My Blog

10 Questions to Ask While Selecting a Divorce Lawyer

Posted on by Jared Arnold

Nobody usually gets married with the intention to end it in divorce, but unforeseen and necessary circumstances make it happen sometimes. If you are planning to go through a legal separation, understand right now that it is not a decision to be made on a whim.

Rushing to hire the first lawyer you get into contact with without prior research into their career background and court history is a mistake in itself. This could directly affect whether you win or lose the case.

A lot of things have to be considered, and hiring a good divorce lawyer is among the most critical decisions you must make. In this article, we will mention the common reasons why it is so crucial to have an experienced lawyer and the questions you can ask during the selection period.

What Will Happen If I Don’t Hire a Lawyer for my Divorce?

If you try to get a divorce without the help of a qualified litigator, you may have to deal with problems that could potentially harm your finances and mental health. You might find yourself stuck in a longer process with no idea how to move forward or return. With a capable legal representative on your side, you could speed up the legal separation process and reach an agreement faster.

A reasonable divorce attorney can also assist in developing and keeping a healthy parent-child relationship. If you opt not to get help from a lawyer, you might end up with custody and parenting arrangements that hurt your relationship with your kids and which could give you less time with them.

Getting a family lawyer can save you money in the long run. A decent attorney can prevent you from making a costly deal about a property, debt, child support, or alimony unsuitable for your financial capabilities. Once the court makes a divorce order, changing it is challenging and sometimes impossible. You will need a lawyer from the start to make sure your best interests are taken care of.

Financial Aspects Included in a Divorce

Annulment involves plenty of aspects that the average person may find difficult to comprehend and work around. It is here where a legal expert’s knowledge is most beneficial and useful for you to perceive the concepts correctly and make sound decisions based on that information. Among the aftermath that follows a judicial separation are:

  • Financial disclosure between spouses so everyone is aware of the monetary situation of each person, which would have an impact on child custody and asset division;
  • Restraining orders so a spouse cannot change beneficiary designations or move assets before or during the divorce;
  • Alimony calculation and discussion of any particular circumstances that would determine the amount to be given to a spouse; 
  • Child support calculation and again discussion of any atypical situation that would affect it; and lastly,
  • Division of properties and other assets, such as real estate, collectibles, venture capital interests, stock option portfolios, goodwill, or other business interests, and the division of retirement benefits.

These matters are covered by a sizable body of law that varies from state to state. You’ll need to choose a lawyer familiar with the latest regulations and cases that apply to your location because these laws are frequently changed or overturned by the legislature and the courts.

Being Selective of Your Lawyer

There are many attorneys in the industry, and plenty of them promote themselves to be “family law” or “divorce” lawyers. Family law is an area of expertise that demands intricate legal concepts that require ample time and experience to understand fully. Even more, subspecialties exist within the field of family law, including those dealing with guardianship, custody, and qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs).

You might feel at ease working with a family law attorney who lacks expertise if your case is relatively straightforward, has few financial complications, and involves no children. However, if your divorce is complex and encompasses significant assets, complicated financial concerns, or an unsettled custody dispute, it is best to hire a family law specialist who has the experience in handling the specific issues in your case.

Here are some concerns you need to address during your preliminary consultation with a family law attorney. These could assist you in deciding if this lawyer is the best fit for your situation.

  • Are divorces your area of expertise, or are they only a component of your practice? How long have you been a family law attorney? How many cases involving family law have you handled? Are you a “certified specialist in family law”?
  • How long does it typically take you to reply to calls? Can I reach you in case of an emergency? What do you deem a crisis to be?
  • Will any other staff members in your office be handling my case? What background do they possess? Can we meet up?
  • What do you think the judge would decide for my case, given what you already know about it?
  • What kind of plan do you have for my situation? How long will it take for my case to be settled?
  • What can you do to assist me in comprehending the tax implications of the choices I will need to make?
  • How will you bill me? What is your pricing per hour? Will you ask for payment for the time I spend interacting with paralegals, secretaries, or other attorneys? If so, how much? What is the upfront retainer for you?
  • What expenses (apart from your own) do you anticipate (such as for private investigators, forensic accountants, doctors, or psychiatrists), and how will you bill me for them?
  • What do you think the overall expenses of this divorce will be? (Don’t be shocked if most divorce lawyers decline to respond to this query; the cost of the divorce is heavily influenced by the extent of dispute in your case.) However, you may judge an attorney by how they respond to this question. An honest lawyer would typically respond that predicting the fees in advance is challenging. An attorney who quotes you a meager sum might just be vying for your money.
  • Would you let me bargain with my spouse face-to-face? How can I minimize the expense of my divorce? Are there any chores I can complete on my own to lower the price you will charge me?

Divorce can be stressful, but it does not have to be. Hire the most caring and skilled family lawyer in Paducah, Kentucky, and surrounding areas today! Attorney Jennifer Mills Peek will take care of your annulment concerns with sophistication and firmness to bring you the results you want. Call her today to discuss your options at (270) 558-4790 or visit her website at https://paducahfamilylaw.com/ for more info and to send a free quote.

My Blog

Why You Should Not Handle Legal Matters Without a Lawyer

Posted on by Jared Arnold
Why You Should Not Handle Legal Matters Without a Lawyer

If you find yourself in the middle of a messy legal situation, you might be tempted to try and handle it on your own. Do you know all of the laws of your state?  Do you understand the legal process and what could be at stake if you lose?

When it comes to serious legal matters, we believe it is in your best interest to hire a lawyer to help you navigate the entire legal process. Here are some of the top reasons to carefully consider when weighing whether to hire a lawyer.

1. Lawyers have prior knowledge to help understand your odds of getting what you want

It is highly likely that your lawyer will have handled a case (or several cases) similar to yours in the past. With this knowledge, they can help prepare you for what to expect in trial, advise on your odds are of getting the outcome you want, and more. Your lawyer will also offer practical advice that can potentially save you tons of time and money. 

2. You won’t be connected to other professionals who can help

Your lawyer is connected to a team of professionals that will help you with your legal matters should you need it. If you go into a legal battle on your own, you will not have the benefit of additional help that can assist you with your case. Keep in mind that the other party involved in the dispute will likely have legal help, meaning they too will have access to resources if needed. 

3. Your legal team won’t be emotionally involved in the situation

Many legal disputes, especially those regarding sensitive situations such as a divorce or child custody arrangement, can be very draining on the parties involved. It is likely that you will be emotional during this time, which is to be expected, but that emotion will work against you should you decide to represent yourself. Hiring a lawyer will not only provide you with an individual that understands the legal system, but also with an outside individual that can look at things clearly.

4. Lawyers understand all the legal forms and documentation you may need

There are a lot of technical elements involved in a legal battle. If you provide incorrect information, or miss a deadline, you can seriously delay your case, or even worse, cause the case to be thrown out entirely. Don’t run the risk of being confused or overwhelmed with legal documentation; hire a team that knows the system and will handle your legal matters for you.

5. It can be more costly without one

Finally, you might think that representing yourself in a legal battle will save you money, but should you lose your court battle, you could lose far more money than you would have invested in a lawyer in the first place. A good law firm will offer you a free consultation, allowing you to explain your legal matters and get an expert opinion for no cost.

These are just a few of the reasons why denying legal help can be a very dangerous and costly decision. All legal matters are serious, and you deserve to be represented by a team willing to fight for you.

Technology

The Value of IT Support in Business

Posted on by Jared Arnold
IT support

When you run a small or medium-sized business, the luxury of having in-house IT support cannot always be facilitated. But the smooth running of your IT system is imperative and ensures that you can continue to run your business 24/7.

We’ve all been there – its 4:30pm on Friday afternoon. The chilled wine is calling, and the weekend is within touching distance. You just have one more report to write, one more order to send, and one more email to respond to before you can be at one with your beverage. Then BAM! Your PC doesn’t want to play ball – it freezes mid-air, your internet goes down, or that very important file you saved seems to have disappeared into the ether. That cold wine is getting warmer by the minute. The frustration is unbelievable! Want to throw your laptop out the window? Well it depends if you have been savvy enough to have access to outsourced IT support. Someone who is experienced and knowledgeable and makes data backup, computer repair, and recovery seems like a walk in the park. Someone who is reliable, someone who you trust and who is just a phone call away.

When something goes wrong, even if it’s for a few hours your business is at risk of coming to a complete standstill. You could potentially lose a whole day’s turnover, so downtime is something you should do your utmost to avoid.

So, what should you look for when sourcing IT support for your business?

  • Speed – In the event of a huge IT disaster, you need a quick response.
  • Reliability – When things go horribly wrong, you need to be able to call upon someone who is reliable, who does what they say they are going to do, and who you can count on time and time again.
  • Cost – You may not want to add another monthly cost against your business, but IT support adds unmeasurable value to your business.

Your IT systems are the heart of your business; therefore, the quality of your IT support is essential!

Want to know more about how we can help? Give us a call today. https://newarkmanagedcomputing.com/contact-professional-it-service-newark/

Insurance

4 Reasons Why You REALLY Need Insurance

Posted on by Jared Arnold
insurance

First of all, learn that planning ahead of time and getting ready for the years to come is an important move– most especially nowadays. When you’re a car owner, you can praise yourself all you want saying you are a disciplined, and well-taught driver who will definitely never experience an accident. But always remember, accidents happen unexpectedly.

Your usual normal sunny day can turn out in another way in an unexpected moment. This is not to scare you, but to help you understand the reality and what actions you can surely take RIGHT NOW to assist you in the future. Below are the reasons why you REALLY need to get insured:

  1. Come with a Peace of Mind
    There is various type of insurance– for the car, house, family members, health, properties, business, and much more! With all the rising costs on the market, for both wants and wants, insurance becomes more crucial and mandatory. Getting Insurance can lessen your worries and uncertainties and offer you something to hope and trust on when you terribly need to have assistance. Everyone wants to live daily with peacefulness, and this is one way to help make that occur to you.
  2. BE SMART. Buy Protection ahead of time
    Like what I stated in the introduction, life may really throw surprises at you when you least expect it. You and your loved ones do not deserve to struggle with this unlucky situations and insurances may come to the rescue in times of need. Safeguard both your loved ones and financial needs by getting insured.
  3. Stability
    Life has unlimited dangers, most especially if you launch a business. Insurance coverage can cover your business expenses, when you need a repair for an equipment for improvement. Whatever risks you get, and when results are negative, insurances got your back and will support you to overcome difficult times a lot easier.
  4. Efficient Risk Managing
    You will never know what can occur– losing your car, having an accident, getting sick, and the like. Uncertainties are among the main enemies of life which leads us to worry. Insurance will lessen our risks of being financially stashed due to situations like these. You can ask about a few advice about various types of Insurances from a Professional Financial Advisor to acquaint yourself and know what type you need to have. People might comment on how pricey it may be, but all it requires is for you to take a look at the bigger picture and how it will safeguard you and your loved ones.