A divorce is not always as simple as signing the divorce papers and filing those papers at the local courthouse. It can actually be quite an involved process, especially if there was never a prenuptial agreement in place before the marriage. For any divorce, a person should always consider hiring a Long Island divorce attorney.
This does not necessarily mean that a person should immediately go out and hire a divorce attorney either. The facts need to be carefully weighed, and the consequences need to be considered first before contacting the first divorce attorney. A person needs to carefully consider the benefits and consequences of hiring a Long Island divorce attorney.
Negotiation
A divorce attorney can assist in property negotiations. There is a bit of skill involved during the negotiations, and obviously a little give and take. A lawyer will be able to assess all of the properties, assets and liabilities between the could and actually be able to assign dollar amounts to each. This helps with the negotiation process because there is a tangible number to discuss. They can also hand the discussion of sentimental items as well, which would not necessarily have a dollar amount assigned to them.
Costs
The downside of hiring a divorce attorney is the cost. There can be a fee that is charged up front. This is regardless of the outcome of the divorce case. The more involved the case is the more the services will cost from the divorce attorney.
The cost of a divorce attorney is not completely black and white though. There are some other things that can factor into the overall expense of a divorce attorney. For starters, a divorce attorney could actually (and most preferably) settle the case out of court. It would save all parties a lot of money because there would be no court fees involved. Also, some divorce attorneys may be more flexible than others when it comes to payments. If money is an issue, then be upfront about it, and the divorce attorney may be able to offer alternative methods to billing. If cash assets are involved, they may be willing to accept payment that is dependent on the outcome of the case. It never hurts to ask.