by Dwight Long

What To Look For In A Divorce Lawyer

If you are seeking separation for your spouse, you will also be seeking an experienced divorce lawyer. Hiring the right lawyer can make the entire process smoother ad stress-free. Contact our office today to arrange a free consultation. Here is what to look for in a divorce lawyer.

Divorce, Separation, Marriage Breakup, Split, Argument

You’ll want a trustworthy divorce lawyer on your side, but beyond that, what you should look for in a lawyer depends mostly on what you value and what you want to get out of the divorce.

If you expect to fight every step of the way – and if you’re keen on fighting back, and don’t care much for compromising – then you should get a notorious battler.

In most cases, though, you’ll probably want a lawyer with whom you feel comfortable. Do you feel assured that your lawyer is listening to you, and using your best interests to navigate? Will you get the lawyer you pick and pay for, or will that attorney hand you off to others in his or her firm after the consultation? You want some who can foresee problems and possibilities you wouldn’t – you also want someone with a reputation for creative, innovative solutions to the knotty problems of asset division, alimony, and child custody and support. You’ll want a lawyer who can give you peace of mind and fight for a fair and equitable outcome for you and your children.

In your first consultation, your lawyer should be able to help you get a feel for the cost and timeline of divorce. You should start asking questions about strategy right away. What are the advantages of litigation versus mediation in your case?  What percentage of that attorney’s cases go to trial? Is your lawyer amenable to sitting down with your spouse and his or her attorney and having a settlement conference in the office? Be open about whatever is on your mind. No two divorce cases are the same: you want to know your lawyer is listening to you, and ready to come up with creative solutions to meet your needs.

If you are considering divorce, or have been served divorce papers, you need legal counsel that works diligently to protect your best interests, Kristen S. Simpson can provide the assertive yet compassionate support you need to move forward with your life as quickly and easily as possible. Call today to schedule a consultation. paducahdivorcelawyers.com

 

by Dwight Long

Pick Your Attorney With Care!

When you are looking the right attorney, make sure you do your due diligence.

It is likely that whatever you need an attorney for is probably something pretty serious, and in some cases, mission critical to your life. Make sure that you call at least three different firms to check out the landscape in your area.  Ask as many questions as you can think of (and it helps to prepare these before you call).  Pay careful attention to the way the attorney conducts themselves. Do they seem to care about YOU and your problem? Or is their focus only on the payment? We understand that law is a business, but attorneys who handle intensely personal matters like bankruptcy, or estates and wills (with the accompanying family infighting that can often be present) need to understand and be sympathetic to your situation, and your stress, even while discussing fees with you.  A divorce attorney needs to be even more careful when discussing your potential case. If they are going to be looking out for your best interests, it can’t only be about money (and in fact some of the richest most successful attorneys are also good at taking care of the clients, putting their clients’ needs before their own, and being very good listeners.

by Dwight Long

4 Things To Do To Be Debt Free and Enjoy Life More!

ways to be debt free and happy

There isn’t anything more important in life than getting out of debt. Getting out of debt isn’t just a matter of paying off your credit card bills. It will involve changing how you spend money, learning how to manage your available funds as well as setting up a retirement fund. Let’s discuss some do’s and don’ts to follow while you undertake this journey to get out of debt.

1.Put away the plastic.

As our rule #1, you must be ready to end your reliance on credit cards, and only pay using cash. This may force you to forgo splurging on “luxuries” like shopping, eating out, and other entertainment. If you are planning to be debt-free, this must be a guiding principle from here on out.

2.Addressing debt one at a time.

Many debt-ridden individuals who have maxed out credit cards, in addition to home loans, student debts, etc. will often try to address each of them every month. A better idea would be to cut all spending to just your essentials, and then using your surplus to pay off the debt with the highest interest rate. Once you have tackled that debt, you will move on to the debt with the next highest interest rate, and so on until you are debt free.

3.Do not neglect your retirement account.

Although you may be excited about your journey to becoming debt free, you also don’t want to skip out on funding your retirement account. Retirement savings accrue only with the power of compound interest, and time is of the essence here. The earlier you begin saving, the more you will have saved up come retirement time unless you are lucky enough to tap into other sources of income at a later time.

4. Do not go back to your old ways.

Some people find themselves initially going all in on the idea of being debt-free, but tend to lose focus over time. Some solutions here include reading this list of pitfalls we have listed here, as well as writing down the amount of debt you have accrued on a small piece of paper, and physically attaching that to your credit card. This way, you will be gently reminded of the goal you are trying to reach every time you feel tempted to go back to your old ways.