Family Law

"Do's" for Managing Documents & Saving Money on Attorney's Fees

By J. Benjamin Stevens

Among the topics that are discussed most often in divorce cases are (a) how to best manage the documents that are inevitably required and (b) how to cut down on their attorney's fees. Clients who have time, understanding and some organizational ability can save time for their attorney and save money for themselves by doing the following:

1. Background information :: When you are getting ready to meet with your prospective attorney, gather and organize whatever financial records you can find. Typically, your lawyer will need copies of tax returns, bank statements, retirement account statements, deeds, loan agreements and records, credit card statements, etc. While you could toss them into a bag, it will greatly help your attorney if you spend a little time separating the records by source and put them in chronological order.
2. Discovery :: In many divorce cases, each side sends the other side long lists of questions and requests for documents. It can take a long time to gather up the paperwork and an even longer time to review and organize it. Your attorney will tell you what is needed and you will have the initial responsibility of gathering and organizing the documents. The more complete and organized the records are, the more you will benefit. 
3. Messages :: Sometimes, you may have letters that are relevant and important to your case. More often, there will be emails, texts, tweets, wall postings, direct messages or other forms of written communications – and these can really be voluminous. It will be a great help to your lawyer if you can (a) get a paper copy or a good electronic copy, (b) organize the messages so that your attorney knows what you consider to be the importance of each message, and (c) try to have date and time information on each message.

Source: "Tips for Managing Documents to Save Money on Attorney's Fees" by Dick Price, published at his Divorce and Family Law in Tarrant County, Texas blog.

Full post as published by SC Family Law Blog on April 28, 2010 (boomark / email).