So you hired a divorce lawyer and they won’t return your calls. This is one of the most common complaints that client’s have of their lawyer. The best advice we can give you here is to ask the following questions of your lawyer BEFORE you hire them.
How will I be updated on the progress of my case?
At The Hart Law Firm, we believe that an informed client is the best kind. Once you become a client, you will be invited to create an account on our secure, encrypted, client portal. We will keep a copy of all correspondence, pleadings and other documents related to your case in this online portal. You will have access to this information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you ever have questions or want to review the progress of your file, you can access this portal to see what activity has taken place on your file. In addition, whenever we receive or send correspondence or other legal pleadings on your behalf, a copy of that document is placed into your client portal and you will receive an email letting you know that you have additional documents to review.
Will you let me approve all settlement offers before you send them out?
I’ve heard stories from other clients that they had another attorney that sent out a settlement offer to their spouse without getting their approval on the letter first. We abhor this practice. A settlement offer has important legal significance in your case and we will never send out any settlement offers (or accept any settlement offers) without running it by you first.
Will you send me a copy of all correspondence on my file?
As mentioned above, you will receive an automated email whenever documents or correspondence are received for your case.
Do you have a follow-up system in place so that you will never lose track of my file?
Yes. For the first month of your case we will follow up with you at least weekly to make sure that we are receiving the documents we need from you to prepare your case. Thereafter, we will follow-up with you as needed, but no less than once a month to make sure that your case stays on track.
If I need to talk to you, what system do you have in place to make sure that my questions get answered?
Generally speaking, our attorneys do not accept unscheduled in-bound phone calls. While this may seem like a strict policy, the purpose is to keep us as productive as possible. If your attorney is working on your file, you wouldn’t want us to interrupt that work to take an unrelated phone call, would you? Doing so will cost you time and money on your case. We typically can find time to schedule a phone conference with an attorney during the same day, or within 24-48 hours. In addition, by scheduling a phone conference, the attorney can prepare for that phone conference and review your file ahead of time and minimize the amount of time wasted on your case.
How long do you anticipate my case will take?
Every case is unique and timeframes vary. An absolute divorce typically takes 60-90 days if there are no hiccups along the way. Collaborative cases can be completed in as few as a couple months, but 3-6 months is typical. Litigation matters will take much longer and cost much more, with you ending up in mediation within 6-9 months after a case is file.
If I need to meet with you, what procedures do you have in place to facilitate this?
Call our office and schedule a time. We will meet with you as soon as we possibly can. (919) 460-5422.
You may also fill out a contact form and a representative of our office will be in touch as soon as possible.