Divorce "Tip of the Day:" More About Trusting Your Divorce Attorney

In the last post, we discussed ways in which the attorney-client relationship is like a friendship. In this post, I want to emphasize the importance of your trusting and telling your divorce lawyer everything about you and your case! And that means confiding in your divorce attorney about bad things which might be harmful to your divorce case, too!

No divorce attorney wants to be blind-sided in the courtroom by evidence against you which is presented by your worthless spouse, "Sluggo." So, tell your divorce lawyer everything -- the good, the bad and the ugly! For example, if you have openly confided in your own divorce lawyer about your poor judgment in signing up with a dating website, (while you are still married), then you and your attorney can be prepared to explain or rebut any false allegations of cheating made against you.

If you cannot tell your divorce lawyer everything, then maybe you have retained the wrong lawyer. And if you don't tell him or her everything, then be prepared to accept the consequences!

Divorce "Tip of the Day:" Putting Aside Money

Let's try to end the year with another post involving practical tips for women seeking a divorce. (Of course, our family law firm also represents men in divorce cases, too!) Again, as we have emphasized many times before, we practice law only in the State of Georgia. You should always consult with your own divorce lawyer in your own state before making any decisions affecting your legal rights!

Let's talk about money. Here, at The Goolsby Law Firm, LLC, (a father and son family law firm located in Martinez, Georgia, just outside Augusta, Georgia), we sometimes get telephone calls from women who need to retain a divorce attorney, but they simply do not have the means to hire one. In some cases, they are stay-at-home moms who have limited access to money. What can they do? While there are no easy answers, and although we are not offering legal advice, here are some practical tips for women in this situation to consider:

1. Regularly put away small amounts of money in a "rainy day fund:" While this is not meant to encourage spouses to hide things from each other, in some situations, it might be appropriate for someone to set aside small amounts of money, e.g. their Christmas gift money, or change at the grocery store, for a "rainy day" need.

2. Talk with trusted family members or friends: This is no time to be bashful. This is one time in your life when you need to talk with family members or close friends who might be able and willing to help you out financially, both with legal expenses and with getting back on your feet financially.

3. Use your credit card: Most divorce lawyers accept credit cards (and maybe you can even let your worthless spouse, "Sluggo," pay the credit card bills later)!

4. Check with local social services agencies: While this won't directly help you with legal expenses, if you know that you and your kids' basic needs will be met, it might free up other funds to apply toward legal costs.

5. Check with womens' shelters: Not only do these fine charities offer protection from abusive spouses, like your own worthless spouse, "Sluggo," but also they sometimes may be able to refer you to law firms which will work with and help such women with the legal costs. Our law firm regularly gets such referrals and helps women in this manner. Some shelters will also even provide some financial assistance with legal costs for divorces or protective orders.

6. Consult with your own divorce lawyer: Sometimes, divorce lawyers can suggest other possible solutions to your problems, including possibly seeking attorney's fees from the other spouse, "Sluggo." Also, some family law firms occasionally accept pro bono cases, at no charge. Of course, each case is different, but it is worth calling and discussing your situation with divorce lawyers who offer, as we do, a free initial consultation.

Do you have any other ideas? I know that there are many people "out there" who are in bad, abusive situations. They are desperate and need help. Here's hoping that, in the new year, more people can find the help and encouragement that they need!

Divorce "Tip of the Day:" Ways You Can Help Your Divorce Lawyer

In this blog about divorce in Georgia, we always try to give you some practical tips or helpful ideas to consider in your divorce. Here are a few tips on how to make your appointments with your divorce attorney run more efficiently and productive:

1. First of all, keep your appointments! In other words, if you have a scheduled appointment, then keep it, and, if you must cancel, please call early to cancel it. As a divorce lawyer, I never cease to be amazed at how many people simply stand us up! So, please keep your appointments, or please call and cancel whenever possible!

2. Be prompt! Just as people sometimes are "no shows," you would also be amazed at how many people are often late for appointments! Naturally, sometimes there are good reasons for being late. But please always try to be on time, or early, whenever possible!

3. Be organized. Please plan beforehand exactly what documents you are supposed to bring to your appointment and do your "homework" ahead of time!

4. Write down your questions in advance (and bring them with you). This will also help make your meeting with your divorce lawyer run more efficiently.

5. Maintain your timeline or journal. Here, at The Goolsby Law Firm, we generally ask all our clients to keep and maintain a journal of all contacts with their worthless spouse, "Sluggo." This will not only help your meetings with your divorce attorney run more smoothly, but also it will help you and your attorney be better prepared when you go to court!

I hope these tips help someone "out there!" And I know some of you may be thinking: "Goolsby has all these great ideas for how clients can help their lawyers, but has he considered how lawyers can better help their clients?"

Do you have any ideas? I promise that, in a future post, I will address how lawyers can be more helpful to their clients!

Divorce "Tip of the Day:" Kill 'Em With Kindness!

What should you do if you want to have an uncontested divorce, but your angry, incorrigible spouse, "Sluggo," keeps "pushing your buttons" with insult after insult?

The simple answer is.....Kill him with kindness, that is, at least until the ink of his signature on your divorce settlement agreement is dry!

Generally, the only way you can get an uncontested divorce in Georgia is if both parties will cooperate and sign all the divorce documents. So, if you give in to a "hissy fit" and trade insults with Sluggo, then it may become impossible to get him to sign anything! Yet, in many cases, getting an uncontested divorce is to your advantage: An uncontested divorce will save you (both) a lot of time, hassle, and money.

So, at least for now, please don't argue; instead, just smile, bite your tongue, breathe deeply, and hand Sluggo an ink pen!