When all you need is someone to guide you in your negotiations with your spouse, hiring a lawyer for hourly, as-needed advice and coaching may be just right. 
You should not have to pay for more than you need.
I routinely counsel clients who are doing their own divorces, whether working out the details one-to-one with their spouse, or using a mediator. Sometimes a single hour is enough for some focused legal advice. Sometimes more is helpful, and I often do multiple phone calls, video calls, or in-person meetings to help clients work through their questions and develop greater confidence as they engage in their negotiations. Frequently, I review divorce documents that have been prepared by a mediator or by a spouse’s attorney.
When consulting with clients in this way, I stay in the background and let you direct how much interaction we have. I can be available as much or as little as you need. That way, you manage your own process, and you control the costs.
Divorce consulting may be right for you if the answers to one or more of these questions is “yes”:
- Do you and your spouse have settlement ideas in mind?
- Do you need to test your ideas by discussing them with someone looking out for your interests?
- Are you and your spouse able to engage in productive discussions, perhaps with the help of a mediator?
- Are you working with a mediator without attorneys present?
- Do you feel reasonably confident in your ability to negotiate on your own behalf?
- Do you have tentative agreements already that you are considering?
- Has your mediator suggested you consult with counsel?
- Do you have just a few specific legal or strategic questions?
If you are interested in divorce consulting, contact me to schedule an initial phone call. We can use the time to assess your needs and make a plan. And if you need a referral to a mediator, I will be happy to provide one.
