Reduce Your Legal Bill Today

    Divorce is filled with uncertainty and stress. Lawyers know how to deal with people who are divorcing. But you can be better prepared to help and keep your costs down.

Alan Toback, managing partner of Lake & Toback, one of the largest matrimonial and family law firms in Illinois, describes the ideal client as "organized, truthful, willing to listen to my advice and take it and willing to work together with me to achieve their goals."   

Here are five simple steps to help.

1. Don't use your attorney as a therapist.
An attorney resolves legal issues, not emotional ones. Do not go to an attorney unless you're certain you want a divorce and need your legal rights explained and safeguarded. Don't use your attorney as a sounding board to help make a decision which only you can make.

2. Know what questions you want answered.
Have a detailed list of questions to ask your attorney so you can understand the divorce process, the time it will take and the costs. You can reflect on those answers when you have time.

3. Ask about how expenses are calculated.
Your attorney can tell you his or her billing and collection policies, how he or she expects to charge the legal fees (hourly rate or a flat fee), the nature of the out-of-pocket expenses.   

4. Gather information and documents.
For an attorney to represent you well, give them as much information as you can in the first meeting.  

5. Do some of the legwork.
Ask your attorney if you can do photocopying, filing court documents, or delivering documents to the other attorney to save money. Some lawyers do not allow this, but you can certainly ask.