Rhode Island Divorce Tips by Attorney Chris Pearsall

RI Common Law Divorce - Does the Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer Ask Enough Questions?

Being a dedicated Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer involves more than just an advertisement in the Yellow Pages touting that you handle divorce cases.  It also means much more than just having a placard outside your door indicating that you handle divorce cases that has been sitting there for the past twenty (20) years.  It means staying abreast of legal developments in divorce and family law at least on major issues.

Consider this family lawyer scenario.

A prospective divorce client is referred by a friend to a person referred as a "good divorce lawyer."  So the prospective client makes an appointment and meets with the lawyer.  The prospective client hands the papers received from the constable to the divorce lawyer.  The lawyer quickly reads the papers.  The brief meeting goes something like this.

DIVORCE LAWYER:  Well, these papers claim that you are a spouse in a "common law" marriage that was created by Rhode Island Law, that your marriage has broken down, and now your spouse wants a divorce. These are your divorce papers.

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT:  What marriage?!  We never got married.  She's my girlfriend and I might consider marrying her when I'm ready but we sure as hell aren't married right now.

DIVORCE LAWYER:  Depending on the facts, Rhode Island law allows a judge to declare that you are married and may have been married for some time.

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT:  Well how the heck would I know?

DIVORCE LAWYER:  Let me ask you a few questions.

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT:  Okay.

DIVORCE LAWYER:  Now you said you never got married, but how long did the two of you live together?

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT:  Pretty long now . . .almost 13 years.

DIVORCE LAWYER:   Do you own any property together?

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT:  Just the house we're living in right now.

DIVORCE LAWYER:   How do you file your taxes?

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT:  Well, the past 3 years we filed jointly.

DIVORCE LAWYER:  There's no point fighting it.  A judge is going to find a common law marriage here.  You tax filings make it a virtual certainty.

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT:  But we never got married I tell you and I've got . . [interrupted by the Divorce Lawyer]

DIVORCE LAWYER:  I'm sure I can get you a good settlement despite what these papers are looking for. Now the papers were served on you almost 20 days ago so we need to answer this Complaint in the next few days or you could get defaulted.  

Now my secretary will take some information from you on the way out and she'll have you sign a copy of my retainer agreement and give you a copy along with a questionaire.  Before we end for today I'll need a check payable to me for $3,500 so I can answer this complaint before you get defaulted so while you do that. . . [interrupted by the Prospective Divorce Client]

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT: I'd like to thank you for your time but I need to process this and I have an appointment scheduled with another attorney I'd like to meet with.

DIVORCE LAWYER:  But you don't have very much time and . . .

PROSPECTIVE DIVORCE CLIENT: I understand.  You've told me that.  I'll call you if I want to proceed further.  I'll show myself out.  

The Prospective Divorce Client left this particular divorce lawyer's office.

Okay, let's snap back to you as the reader sitting there reading and considering this little exchange.  Now imagine that you are the one seeking to hire a lawyer and you are expected by this divorce lawyer to plunk down $3,500 of your hard earned money for this lawyer to represent you.  

What are we talking about here?  We are talking about a lawyer who gave advice to a prospective client that opposing the Complaint for a Common Law divorce is not worth it even when the client insists there was no marriage. Clearly that isn't what the prospective client would like to hear. Yet there are times when a client has to realize the truth now matter how difficult it may be to swallow.  But is this the truth?  

The divorce lawyer asked only three (3) questions before making the determination, and even more important the divorce lawyer didn't even bother to ask the prospective divorce client about any of the facts and circumstances surrounding the prospective client's life, relationship, and lifestyle with this person who alleges they are married.

Ask yourself, does it make sense that Rhode Island law forms a marriage right out of thin air without signed documents, without a marriage certificate, and without any document telling either party not only that they are married to one anyone but "WHEN" that marriage occurred.

Okay, well these are only three things.  Let's assume that it could be and still cover these three things.  but there must be more, right?  Doesn't it boggle your mind?  I mean, do you have to be a lawyer to feel a bit unnerved and a bit shocked that such a powerful thing with so many legal benefits and obligations as marriage . . . could be formed so easily?  If it doesn't make you wonder... then it should.

Divorce lawyer or not, if you were Spiderman, then your "Spidey Senses" would be tingling like crazy, or as a prospective female divorce client your women's intuition should be sending a signal throughout your body telling you that it doesn't make sense that a divorce lawyer could have you answer three (3) simple questions and essentially tell you to 1) agree that you are married when you haven't "officially married" the person and 2) not to oppose the divorce papers!

Think about it divorce laws themselves.  Doesn't it even defy common sense to think that people who never got married and didn't think of themselves that way are, in fact, married?

The divorce lawyer has not shown you as the prospective divorce client a single stitch of anything that says if you give those particular answers to those particular questions that you are "in fact" married under Rhode Island Common Law.  Based simply upon a referral, or even may appear to you to be a phenomenal reputation the lawyer may have as a "good divorce lawyer", . . . I urge you to consider using your wits and let your wisdom and common sense guide you.

Being a good Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer does not necessarily mean that the lawyer is good at determining who is married under Rhode Island Common Law.

Wouldn't you be inclined to look deeper than that?  Perhaps you would demand a clearer explanation as to where it can be found that you are considered "married" under those circumstances.  More specifically, wouldn't you want to know precisely where in the law it says that your answers prove that you are definitely married under common law.

I will suggest to you that if such a scenario were to occur, and I can assure you it has by more than a few lawyers, that in the very least you keep your head on straight and ask yourself this simple question, Did the Lawyer Ask Me Enough Questions?  

Why?  Because the divorce lawyer in this scenario, in my professional opinion has missed at least a dozen questions that need to be asked for a thorough examination of a Rhode Island Common Law Marriage matter.   

So what happens if the divorce lawyer doesn't ask enough questions?  Well, the advice is, in the very least flawed.  More likely, the legal advice is simply wrong and the lawyer is doing you a disservice.  The end result?  You are not properly represented and you are unable to exercise the options and alternatives you may have access to simply because the divorce lawyer didn't do a proper analysis of the common law marriage in the first place.

We will address both what this lack of knowledge and thoroughness could do to you by discussing some of the factors regarding the formation of Common Law Marriages in Rhode Island in another article.  The damages that could be caused to you as the prospective divorce client by an improper evaluation can be astronomical depending upon the circumstances.

For now, I will close with this thought.  Common law marriages are far more complex than typical marriages and the same goes for common law divorce proceedings because they are filled with even more questions that must be answered.  Common law marriages may be argued and it is one of the few cases where a divorce may be denied simply because a marriage did not exist.  

Common law marriages in Rhode Island are not as easily formed and they are certainly not as easily dissolved.  Therefore, if you are faced with a boyfriend, girlfriend, or domestic partner of any kind who claims you are married, and you are not, you need the help of a skilled divorce and family law lawyer who knows the law and knows the court system.  

To find your divorce lawyer, you will need to remain sharper than the average person when seeking a divorce lawyer.  As a lawyer dealing with marriages and their dissolution (divorces) almost exclusively for more than a decade, I will offer you this rule of thumb.  If the RI divorce lawyers you are interviewing to represent you, or to give you advice do not ask you to explain your relationship and you are not asked at least a dozen questions, then you should consider another divorce lawyer.  

The fewer questions you are asked, the greater indicator that the "divorce lawyer" simply isn't up to speed on his or her common law marriage doctrines or the current cases on the subject (something necessary for the divorce or matrimonial lawyer you will want to hire).

So remember this question, Is this divorce lawyer I am considering asking me enough questions before giving me any determination as to whether I am more likely or less likely to be considered married under Rhode Island Law?   Less questions generally equate to less knowledge, less accuracy, less options and less left for you to continue your life within in the end.

For today, this is your Rhode Island Divorce Coach reminding you that awareness is the key.

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

Rhode Island's Full-Time Divorce* Lawyer is Now
Rhode Island's Only Divorce and Family Law Coach!!

Discover the Tremendous Benefits You Receive by 

Participating in Family Law Coaching Sessions!

Visit the RhodeIslandDivorceCoach.com

Call (401) 632-6976 Now
to
Schedule Your Low-Cost Rhode Island Divorce* or Family Law* Coaching Session!

Experience the Difference!

Copyright 2007 to Present.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
 Offering Rhode Island Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching for a New Millenium!

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.  The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any particular field of practice.

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Hunting for a RI Divorce Lawyer - Free RI Consultations - You usually get what you pay for! Nothing!

Lawyer or not, I do remember what it's like to be a layperson instead of a Rhode Island Divorce lawyer.  This may be where you are right now.  Searching for a Rhode Island divorce lawyer without any direction or assistance.

Let me take you back in time to one of my own divorce or family law altercations.  There I was. Perhaps just as you are now, thinking  "What the hell are you thinking.  C'mon, you know that every divorce lawyer you call is going to cost a fortune.  So why even bother to pick up the phone?  Why even waste your breath?"  Those were my thoughts and beliefs.

Yet like most people, I had to try.  Heck, if you don't know your family law rights how are you going to protect them, right?  You might as well not even have rights if you don't know them. 

I certainly didn't know how Rhode Island's Family Courts systems worked at that time.  Maybe you do, maybe you don't.  Personally, I was a mess.  There were just too many things going on in my life.  Most of us are faced with that challenge.   You probably have one or more jobs, hobbies, bills, children, school, marketing, preparation for your job, meetings to attend, and much more.  I'm sure you may have some or perhaps all of these things.

Well, here is what I did as a layperson at that time.  I was clueless.  So I picked up the telephone and called several lawyers in the divorce and family law section of the Yellow Pages.  I didn't know anyone who could even refer me to a lawyer.  The internet was barely accessible to the general public back then.

So I called several attorney's advertising divorces and set up free consultations.  I wanted to know some kind of price range from the divorce lawyer over the phone so I wouldn't be wasting my time or the divorce lawyer's time.  I thought I was being practical.  If I couldn't afford the lawyer then why should I waste the lawyer's time and my time in a free consultation, right?  It made sense to me.  Wouldn't it to you?

Yet there were too many things I just didn't understand about divorce lawyers, the family courts, and how things worked in practice.  Ultimately, I didn't care.  I just wanted the divorce to be done.  I secretly hoped that the divorce would just go away.  I wanted to wake up from this bad nightmare and suddenly family court would be a thing of the past.

My call to the first RI divorce lawyer wasn't too bad.  I called an attorney advertising that he handled divorce cases.  The secretary just asked me when I was available.  I told her and we set up my free consultation.  

I arrived early and was shown into the attorney's office about ten minutes late.   An older male attorney introduced himself, pointed to chair and told me to have a seat and then began walking around his office talking into the the air and waving his hands telling me about how long he had been practicing divorce law and how lucky I was to have found a lawyer as skilled as he was.  Yippee for me!  (Sorry, I just had to add that because it really is funny as I look back at this "lawyer hunt" today.)

The lawyer didn't ask a thing about my situation.  It was pretty clear he didn't care.

As a potential client, I couldn't get a word in edgewise.  If my name weren't written down in the lawyers' appointment book he wouldn't have known my name because I didn't even get a chance to say  "Hello, I'm Chris Pearsall." 

What I DO remember is the divorce attorney's demeanor.  He was very self-confident.  He assumed the cat was in the bag and I was going to hire him.  At the end of the meeting he told me that he'd walk me through the process and I wouldn't have to worry about a thing.  He'd take care of the whole thing and I wouldn't have to worry about anything.  It sure sounded good.  Yet I was no sucker.  Right after that he told me to make out a check for $3,500 payable to [Attorney's Name left out as a professional courtesy]  and his  secretary would give me a form to fill out and sign.

I thanked the lawyer and his secretary as I quickly walked straight for the door.  What a waste of my time!  I hadn't been able to say a word and the divorce lawyer simply  blustered about his achievements trying to impress me.  By the time I left the lawyer's office I wasn't any better off for it.  In fact, I had wasted 35 minutes and $1.50 in quarters for a parking spot, neither of which I would ever get back in my life.  I had no information about divorce, court procedure or my legal rights.  What good was this FREE CONSULTATION if I didn't get anything out of it?  The idea is clear.  You get what you pay for.

With the second Rhode Island lawyer I contacted I didn't fare much better.  I called the second Rhode Island Divorce attorney and then asked if there was anything I would need for his free consultation. The attorney told me I wouldn't need anything other than my checkbook or a check in the amount of $1,500 if he found that I was in dire need of an attorney and that proceedings needed to be instituted right away.  I made the appointment for my free consultation for three days later but called and canceled it the very next day.  Any divorce lawyer who considered that I should make the decision to hire him right then and there without thoughtful consideration and suggested before the appointment was even confirmed that I bring my checkbook was a bit too presumptuous for my taste.

My third encounter was nothing short of comical.  I went to the free consultation listed by a  female divorce lawyer in her Rhode Island Yellow Page advertisement.  This time I went in jeans.  I was not working that day and I felt more comfortable that way.  I also wanted to give the clear impression that I was not a man of great financial means.  I wanted to hear what help she would give me during the free consultation that might help me in my divorce if I didn't hire her. 

We never even got that far.  Here's how it played out.

An attractive woman entered the office about twenty minutes after I arrived.  She seemed calm and well composed and glanced at me sitting in the little waiting area.  The woman whispered to the receptionist, "That isn't my 2:30 appointment, is it?"  The attorney's receptionist nodded.  The female divorce attorney rushed into her office, came out with a brown expandable folder under her arm and rushed for the door, stating "I'm off to court."  The receptionist came out to me a few minutes later and was very apologetic.  She told me that she was sorry but that the attorney received a call and she had to return to court.  The receptionist then gave me the telephone number and address of Rhode Island Legal Services and suggested I contact them.

Apparently the jeans and dress shirt had given the impression I was a bum with no money.  I thanked the receptionist  for her courtesy and asked her how the attorney had had received a call to come back to court when the phone hadn't rung.  The receptionist stumbled and then said nothing.   This time I wanted to make sure it was worth the trip.   I asked the attorney's receptionist to please let the attorney know that I thought she had nice legs just the same.  The receptionist gave me a blank stare as I left the office.  Again, another 25 minutes of my time was wasted plus $2.50 for a parking meter.

If it's any consolation, not all lawyers fit these molds.  There ARE good lawyers out there that do not presume that you are going to hire them, that do not waste your time bragging about their accomplishments, and that do not make it a point to waste your time by standing you up for appointments because you don't look like you have enough money for their tastes.

Finding these lawyers isn't easy.  In today's high-tech age I have more major suggestion.  Use the internet, particularly Google.com and do a variety of word searches for Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys who offer divorce services, have been practicing for 10 years or more, and who offer informative articles for free on the internet to inform the public.  These are the attorneys that are helpful.  These are the attorneys who are not full of themselves.  These are the Rhode Island Divorce attorneys who literally proved themselves by their writings before you even call them or walk in their door.

Be aware that most attorneys still offer free consultations and that it makes all the sense in the world that you get what you pay for.  It only makes sense.  Every word that comes out of an attorney's mouth that carries any form of legal help or advice at all has liability attached to it and the attorney can be sued for it.  

So answer me this.  Why should a Rhode Island Divorce Attorney take all this risk, give you free legal advice, and risk being sued by you if he or she isn't getting paid a dime.  The answer!  They shouldn't!  Frankly, that's why they don't.  

So for decades the Free Consultation has been a hook to get prospective new clients in the door but not to give those prospective new clients any real legal help.  After all, if that was the intention, then it wouldn't it be called the Free Legal Advice Session or the Free Legal Feedback Session.  Yet that isn't what it's called.  

In fact, the word "consultation" means a meeting or discussion with an expert or professional in order to seek advice.  Notice that it says "to seek advice" but says nothing about receiving advice.  That's because that is the other half of the equation that is presumed by most people but it is not technically correct.  Consultations do not require that you receive advice, but only that you give information to seek advice.  Most of the time, the advice you get is this . . . . "You need to hire me right away before this becomes a mess and gets out of control."

In the end, if you're going for a free consultation, remember that you're most likely going to get what you pay for, so if you run across an attorney who charges for an advice session, don't be put off or throw him or her to the wind so quickly.  What are you being promised for your meeting fee?  Is it real legal advice you can use and rely upon?  Then depending upon the cost of the session/meeting, you may be saving yourself a lot of time and headaches by paying a reasonable fee and having something real you can rely upon because by accepting payment the attorney has put his or her reputation on the line and has exposed himself or herself to liability.

This was my experience before I came a lawyer focusing my practice in the area of Rhode Island Divorce and new RI Divorce and Family Law Advice and Coaching.  Yet you have to decide for yourself.  Let your common sense guide you.  Does it make sense that a lawyer is going to sit with you for free and answer your legal questions if he or she isn't assured to get something out of it?

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

Rhode Island's Full-Time Divorce* Lawyer is Now
Rhode Island's Only Divorce and Family Law Coach!!

Discover the Tremendous Benefits You Receive by 

Participating in Family Law Coaching Sessions!

Visit the RhodeIslandDivorceCoach.com

Call (401) 632-6976 Now
to
Schedule Your Low-Cost Rhode Island Divorce* or Family Law* Coaching Session!

Experience the Difference!

Copyright 2007 to Present.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
 Offering Rhode Island Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching for a New Millenium!

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.  The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any particular field of practice.

- - Recommended Websites - -

Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | ChrisPearsall.com | LegalScholar.com | Pearsall-Law-Associates.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers | Rhode Island Divorce Coach  |  RI Divorce Coach | RI Divorce Lawyer on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Coach on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer on Facebook.com| Attorney Chris Pearsall at LawGuru.com | Rhode Island Family Law Lawyer - RI Consumer Tips

If Your Rhode Island Divorce is Uncontested, do you need a Divorce Lawyer?

As a lawyer who has focused my practice in the area of Rhode Island Divorce law for the past decade, one would think that my answer to this question would be "Yes."

However, in the world of law, divorce and courtrooms things are not always as clear cut as we would like them to be.

Consider this Rhode Island Divorce Example that I came up with as I write this article which will develop more as a stream of consciousness than a well planned out and upscale legal article.

* * * Divorce Example of Bristol, Rhode Island Couple Virginia and Aaron  * * *

Virginia and Aaron have been married for 7 years.  They have 3 minor children.  Virginia works part-time because they don't make enough income to afford full-time childcare costs for both of them to work full-time.  As a couple Virginia and Aaron merely get by from week to week, paycheck to paycheck.  Like many couples, financial struggles have torn them apart as husband and wife and Virginia now wants a divorce because she wanted more out of life and doesn't seem to be finding it with Aaron. 

Virginia has never filed for divorce before and doesn't know anything about Rhode Island law or Rhode Island Divorce procedure.  Virginia speaks with 7 lawyers who offer free consultations and after about 30 minutes of their time quote her between $1,500 and $3,500 for their retainers and hourly rates from $175 per hour to $300 per hour.

If Virginia and Aaron agree on their divorce issues, do they need a divorce lawyer?  Legally speaking, one or the other of them really should get some competent legal advice to get through their divorce in the easiest manner possible.

* * * Rhode Island Divorce Lessons * * *

So what is the greatest issue here?  It's the age old problem of MONEY!  Lawyers want and need to get paid for their services.  I can tell you that lawyers services are, in fact, valuable.  The depth of information that a lawyer is expected to know in any field of law requires life-long learning and exposes us to daily liability for every word the comes out of our mouths.  Sometimes I even regret telling people that I'm a lawyer at a social engagement because invariably someone wants to just "run something by me" to "get my thoughts".  It can be very difficult to avoid offending the person and avoid giving my "thoughts" which the person might consider as legal advice and act on.  The next thing you know, the person does something crazy with the tiny information I gave them and now I am called "their lawyer" and I gave them "legal advice".  This is precisely why few if any divorce lawyers in Rhode Island (other than my new Coaching Program) make it a practice to offer anything other than a "one size fits all" proposition to prospective new clients.

As Virginia learned, if you aren't prepared to come up with a decent lump sum of money that the attorney can bill against against at whatever rate the attorney feels he or she is worth then you are out of luck.  Attorneys doing piece meal work are hard to find and attorneys who are willing to take your case on a pro bono basis are even harder because of the huge demand and pressures already placed on attorneys to perform pro bono work each year regardless of whether their practice may be thriving or just treading water due to increased expenses or other economic factors.

So for Virginia and Aaron, do they absolutely NEED a divorce lawyer?  No, they don't.  Why, because practically speaking Virginia already knows that she and her husband can't afford the least expensive lawyer they could find and Virginia has already discovered that they waiting line for pro bono attorneys is exceptionally long. 

So what do you do if you are in Virginia and Aaron's position?  You do what you have to do, right?  Isn't that what we do when things get tough?  Don't most of us just get out there and do what needs to get done when we have to for our benefit and for major life decisions. Yes, that's exactly what we do.

So, Virginia and Aaron, could you do this on your own?  Yes, you could.  You could do your homework on the internet, at the nearest law library and even find time to go to court and watch a few cases to see how things work.  Will you be as prepared?  Maybe not. It may depend upon how much effort you put into finding out how to do things.

Will you get your divorce paperwork back from the Rhode Island Family court with it all filed correctly?  Maybe not the first time.  However, f it's rejected the family court clerks will usually give you some kind of indication of what didn't quite make the grade or what was missing. 

However, If the Rhode Island Family Court clerks don't tell you how to fill out the forms, how to correct them, or why they need to be filled out in a certain way, it's simply because they are prevented from doing so.  They are not your attorney and they are not allowed to advise you because the vast majority of them are not attorneys and since they work for the State of Rhode Island it may expose them and the State of Rhode Island to liability if you misunderstand what they tell you or if they leave out something without knowing that it applies to your situation. 

So if you are going to execute your constitutional right to represent yourself and handle your divorce on your own, you take the risk as well and you should plan on some bumps in the road.  You're on your own unless you get some legal advice or coaching to help you through this process. There may be only minor bumps in your divorce proceeding if you get lucky.  There may be bumps in the road that are so large that you can't even get through a successful hearing because you don't understand what is required by law or by the court's procedure.

So the question is better phrased like this, Am I required to have a lawyer represent me in my Rhode Island Divorce?  NO!  I've seen plenty of people represent themselves in divorces.  They've gone from A to Z and received their divorce decree without a lawyer preparing their forms or showing up in court with them. 

Now, if one couple can make it through an uncomplicated and straightforward divorce between two amicable and agreeable spouses, then, the question is... Can you do it?  It is certainly possible. I know that with my assistance and coaching I've been able to coach as many as 100 couples in a single year to go through their own divorces successfully and spend only a fraction of what it costs to hire even the least expensive lawyer such as the one Virginia came across.

In most Rhode Island divorce situations that are uncontested about the majority of Rhode Island divorce issues, do you need a representational lawyer who does everything for you and goes to court with you?  In my opinion, people who fall into this category don't need it. 

If you fall into that category it is best if you approach your divorce as a learning experience.  Your strength will be found in realizing that there are certain procedures and issues under Rhode Island law that must be addressed.  Once you identify the Rhode Island procedures and legal issues and you represent yourself, you need to take personal responsibility for everything that goes along with representing yourself, that includes your outcome, any setbacks and any problems you encounter. 

Remember that representing yourself means that you are the boss.  You call the shots.  You are responsible for everything you say and do and the end result that your actions produce.  If you do happen to get help in the form of coaching, the coach doesn't call the shots, the coach isn't standing in the courtroom and the coach has merely provided you with guidance based upon his or her experience.  Judgment calls and execution of either legal advice from an attorney you have formally retained in the courtroom are the attorney's discretion and he or she takes responsibility for that and for any glaring mistakes he or she makes in your representation.  Keep in mind that this is why attorneys are paid for their experience and expertise to prepare documents, give you direct advice on what to do and also represent you in court.  The same is not true when you represent yourself.  In that case, you are your own attorney and you are expected to know the ins and outs of things as if you were an attorney licensed to practice divorce law in Rhode Island.

Even an experienced Rhode Island Divorce lawyer who is helping you in the manner of a "coach" by instructing you and teaching you in a general fashion can't anticipate everything you will encounter.  If you don't handle documents or issues properly then it is entirely possible that your divorce might plummet to the ground like a flaming plane crashing before it reaches the end of the runway when a person represents him or herself and does so in such a poor manner that the judge dismisses your divorce case. 

So, what does that mean for you because you didn't seek professional help from anyone?  Let's see . . you have (1) paid a wasted filing fee of $120 that is paid to the Rhode Island Family Courts, (2) you have paid a constable's fee of $55 or so; (3) you have created an angry family court judge, (4) you have experienced personal frustration and possible embarrassment, and (5) worse yet you may have to spend the time and money going through the process all over again from the start.

Do you need a Rhode Island Divorce lawyer?  "NEED" is a subjective term.  Ideally we should all have a divorce attorney to protect our interests in a Rhode Island divorce proceeding if we can afford one.  Practically speaking, not everyone has the money to hire an attorney.

Ultimately, you are not required to have an attorney.  You have the right to represent yourself and you can do it if you have to.... and successfully too.  Do I advocate that you do it without ANY professional help?  NO, not unless you are going to take the amount of time that many of us have taken as lawyers to study the law for years, keep up on case law and appear before the family court judges on a regular basis.  

Keep in mind that as Rhode Island lawyers focusing a practice in divorce, you earn the ins and outs of the court system that aren't found in any book, law, order, procedure or in anything other than experience.  That's something that a coach might impart in a coaching session, but it's not something you will get unless you hire the attorney outright or hire a coach to help you based upon what you can afford. 

Are there complex issues in your divorce? If there are, you should know about it by seeking the advice of a divorce lawyer and/or Rhode Island Divorce Coach to identify those issues.  Then you can consider whether the issues are beyond what you feel what you are capable of addressing and go from there. 

When could more complex issues Rhode Island arise?  That's a question for another day.

* * * A Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer / Coach Suggestion * * *

My suggestion . . . get some type of legal advice in the form of a Rhode Island Divorce Coaching Session or an advice session before you decide that you are going to handle your own divorce.  Why?  Well, frankly, sometimes you just can't afford not to be without a lawyer if there is more at stake regarding your rights, your assets, your debts and especially any children you may have as in the case of Virginia and Aaron.

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

Rhode Island's Full-Time Divorce* Lawyer is Now
Rhode Island's Only Divorce and Family Law Coach!!

Discover the Tremendous Benefits You Receive by 

Participating in Family Law Coaching Sessions!

Visit the RhodeIslandDivorceCoach.com

Call (401) 632-6976 Now
to
Schedule Your Low-Cost Rhode Island Divorce* or Family Law* Coaching Session!

Experience the Difference!

Copyright 2007 to Present.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
 Offering Rhode Island Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching for a New Millenium!

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.  The court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any particular field of practice.

- - Recommended Websites - -

Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | ChrisPearsall.com | LegalScholar.com | Pearsall-Law-Associates.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers | Rhode Island Divorce Coach  |  RI Divorce Coach | RI Divorce Lawyer on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Coach on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer on Facebook.com| Attorney Chris Pearsall at LawGuru.com | Rhode Island Family Law Lawyer - RI Consumer Tips

Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching is Catching On!

Do you need an experienced Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Lawyer?

Or,

Do you just need the help of an experienced Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Lawyer?

Until about one year ago, the second option didn't exist as a legal service here in Rhode Island to my knowledge.

In March of 2009, I started the Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching Practice.  

Are you a person you just wants to some legal help with your Rhode Island divorce or family law matter? 

Are having a hard time finding a Rhode Island lawyer to help you with the forms and understanding the family law process specifically as it relates to your family law matter? 

It's not surprising!  This is and has been typical for decades.

* * * 3 Reasons Other Attorneys Don't Offer Divorce and Family Law Coaching! * * *

 Why?  Three reasons!  It's impractical, it creates liability, and it's not profitable.

 First, it's impracticable.   This coaching approach involves piecemeal work for clients for as much or as little coaching as they want. A coaching approach requires a constant shift in the attorney's focus. This requires additional time, additional file creation,  and additional expense for upkeep and storage.  This means that without extensive planning the coaching approach requires greater focus and greater expense to the attorney.

 Second, it creates greater legal exposure and greater liability resulting from more clients who may misunderstand or misapply legal items discussed by the lawyer with the client, more issues, and perhaps less information to work with when providing the legal coaching if the attorney is not specifically prepared for addressing the continuous shift in clients and their legal coaching needs which might well triple the client load as compared to the typical lawyer's client load.

 Third, Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching is designed to save the client money over typical representation.  Coaching is meant to be an expense saving service to the client.  The client uses the attorney's services on an "as needed" or "as desired" basis.  The client uses the attorney's coaching services as much or as little as the client desires.  As a result of these things, there is no specific cash flow resulting from any specific client because it is at the discretion of the client.  

 In the end, the Rhode Island Family Law Coaches income results from the number of appointments scheduled to give actual direct coaching and legal advice to the client rather than a single client that the attorney can bill a certain number of hours of work too.  Since it does not provide a constant income stream for the attorney, it is not profitable without building a strong coaching practice at rates well below the hourly  rates charged by experienced Rhode Island family law attorneys for representation of the client from beginning to end.

 Why should you care?

Let me give you an example.

Imagine that you are a spouse and you come into my office seeking representation in court because it is the traditional method of hiring an attorney.  You tell me you own a home, have two children and a have three retirement accounts, and that you and your wife are very amicable about things.  

Even if I may be sympathetic and understanding to your situation and want to give you the best price possible, I must consider everything.  My analysis would be roughly as follows without extra issues and circumstances.

 The average uncontested divorce requires about 13 hours of an attorney's time.  An Rhode Island Divorce attorney with ten (10) years of divorce experience receives about an average of $200 per hour for his or her services.  Total costs for the attorney's services to prepare all the documents, discuss the issues with the client, attend court hearings, and draft and file the temporary and final order would result in an Attorney's fee of $2,600 plus costs with the $2,600 as an upfront retainer.

The client is likely to breathe a heavy sigh even though this is a very reasonable quote for an experienced family law attorney to protect your interests in a court proceeding in an uncontested divorce matter with the issues mentioned properly presented to the court.

Now you are the client, would you be overwhelmed to shell out $2,600 upfront to an attorney?

 Shouldn't there be an alternative to this!  Is there an alternative?  

 Now there is!  Meet Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching offered by Attorney Christopher Pearsall at The Rhode Island Divorce & Coaching Institute!

 My practice method is so streamlined and its principles are elevated to a level that eliminates the three (3) major issues that prevent today's Rhode Island Attorneys from diverging from the traditional model.

 Now let us look at the same model.  I'm a Rhode Island Divorce attorney with ten (10) years of experience focused exclusively in the area of Rhode Island divorce and family law.  

 This time we forget the $200 per hour or more for my services.  Why?  Because you opt to enter my Rhode Island Divorce & Family Law Coaching program.  Now things change considerably.  Initially, you sit with me for an hour as I evaluate your case, explain your legal rights, review the necessary documents that are required or address your questions; essentially you and I will discuss and address anything and everything relating to your case that are most important to your issues and your case because this is your life and that is what is important!  

 What is the cost of that initial one hour coaching session?  

 Despite the $200+ market value per hour of the services, the cost is only $135 for that hour.

 Best of all, it's not your typical "Free Consultation" from the newspapers or Yellow Page ads.  If you don't know what the typical "Free Consultation' is, let me explain it to you.

 The "Free Consultation" used by so many Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Lawyers in print advertising uses the word "FREE" merely as the hook to suck you in the door.  

 It is a hook to make you think you are getting something of value with a professional lawyer for... FREE.  Enticing isn't it?  No, not if you understand that you're not getting anything at all for FREE!  In fact, you're losing time in your life that you will never get back only to hear the other shoe drop as the attorney tells you how much you should write the check out for in order to gain his or her services.

 What does this "Free Consultation" actually give you?  It is usually something like this. The attorney will listen to what you have to say for a few minutes, perhaps even a half hour if you are lucky enough to get that far.  Then the lawyer will tell you that there are numerous issues that need to be addressed in your case.  He or she will probably mention to you some legalese that you may not be familiar with and let you know that your case is more serious than you think and that's why you need a lawyer because it is too easy to be taken advantage of or to forget something that could cause a serious issue in the future and the sooner you hire a good lawyer to help you the better off you will be.  The lawyer will interject things during the discussion that are intended to convince you that he or she is the right lawyer for you.  Lastly the lawyer will typically tell you the cost to get started and he or she can immediately get to work to protect your interests.  You are given a clear sense of urgency here as it is clear you should be getting out your checkbook to cut the attorney a check.

Does anything sound fishy to you here?   If not, it should.  You should always take time to think about it and never be pressured into any decision.  Does the lawyer seem to want to lock you in quickly before another attorney gets you as a client?

That's a warning sign.

 Ultimately, if you think about your whole "Free Consultation", go over in your head or in your notes (if you took them) what the Rhode Island Family lawyer told you that tells you really what your rights are.  Can you use anything that the lawyer told you to get anything done even if you don't return to that lawyer?  If not, what did you get for your "Free Consultation" . . . you got a sales pitch and you spent time in your life that you will never get back.

My personal views are no secret.  I am not in favor of the "Free Consultation."  I would rather give a Coaching/Advice Session with advice for the client that is specific to your situation, be paid less than the value of my services to help a person in need and make sure the person knows I have no other expectations other than to spend an hour with them and be paid $135 for the hour of my time. 

If the client wants to go further, the client can ask.  No need to wait for any other shoe to drop at all.  If you don't ask, then I know you're not interested and I have had the pleasure of serving you and you can call upon me for coaching services whenever you like and we'll set up another appointment at an hour for $135.  

 As a client, you can use me for coaching and legal advice as much or as little as you want as long as you understand and agree that I have a 1 hour minimum appointment time and it costs $135 for my time and $33.75 for each portion of a quarter hour that we go over that time with your authority.  Each time, it is not "FREE" but you leave with highly valuable information that you can rely upon.

 In the scenario we used before, if you were the client, you could come to me for an initial coaching session to learn the divorce process and your rights.  You could then come for a 2nd coaching session to address the initial paperwork for filing and how service of process works.  If you desire you could have a third session to help with a Marital Settlement Agreement with your spouse if you wanted that assistance. Your fourth session could be coaching to prepare for your Nominal Hearing.  Lastly the 5th Session would address the drafting of your temporary order (Decision Pending the Final Judgment of Divorce) and your Final Judgment of Divorce and how each of these documents are properly entered with the Family Court.  In total, that is not $2,600 in one lump sum.  It is merely 5 sessions in increments over a 5 1/2 month period of $135 each.  This would be a totaled as $135 x 5 = $675.00.  

 Using this new Coaching Program you saved a whopping $1,925!

 The fact is... this service is saving people thousands of dollars.  I have estimated that in its very first year of operation I have saved my coaching clients in excess of $134,000 in legal fees and helped to process more amicable divorces using this method than in all the other past 10 years combined.  That is no small feat!  In fact, it is a tremendous track record that speaks for itself!

So what is the major change and what is in it for me?

 That is simplicity itself!  Rather than serve fewer clients and make more money from you  as a client, I choose to serve many more clients and make much less money.

This practice method works for me as a Rhode Island Lawyer focusing my practice on divorce and family law.  I don't expect it to work for all attorneys because there is a large trade-off.  

 What is that trade off?  Income.

 I don't need a BMW.  I don't need a summer home.  I don't need three vacations per year in Greece.  I don't need nor do I want to rape the public and buy a mansion.  It comes down simply to what I want.

 I'm here to serve you with what I know.  I can't do it for free because we all have to live.  I want a reasonable wage for my professional skills.  I want as much time with my wife as possible.  I want time for myself and to work around my house.  I want time with family and with friends.

 If you are an attorney and you want to be wealthy....a coaching practice won't work for you.  If you want to help people and you just want to make a living, then I invite other Rhode Island attorneys to contact me and I'll  be happy to train you to set up a coaching practice.  Perhaps together we can restore the people's faith in attorneys, courts and our legal system as a whole.

 In my next article, I'll let my coaching clients express to you for themselves what they have thought of the program and you can decide for yourselves whether it might be something for you.

 If you have questions about the program or want to set up your affordable initial divorce or family law coaching session, I invite you to call me at (401) 632-6976.

 Authored by:  

Attorney Christopher A. Pearsall, Rhode Island Divorce* and Family Law* Attorney and Coach

Copyright 2010 to Present - The Rhode Island Divorce & Coaching Institute (All Rights Reserved.)

The Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer and Family Law Coach serving Warwick, RI: Living Separate Lives, but Not Divorced

Do You Need Divorce Coaching or Legal Representation?  Consider this Example.

On a whimsical impulse Carrie and Jack got married in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1992 while on vacation with friends.  They remained married and living together for seven months in Rhode Island where Carried had her job and family and Jack was stationed in Newport with the military at NUSC.  

The marriage quickly deteriorated after Jack discovered that Carrie was a verbally abusive and sometimes violent alcoholic.  When Jack refused to buy Carrie alcoholic beverages of any kind, Carrie moved out.  Even though all the furnishings and other assets belonged to Jack before the two got married, Jack agreed to give Carrie everything.  Jack felt bad for Carrie and he went so far as to engage professional movers to pack up and move all the furnishings in their apartment to wherever Carried wanted them moved.  The only things Jack did not give to Carrie were the things that were provided to them by the US Military because he had no right to give them away.

Carrie left with 95% of everything and Jack kept only a few minor things that were needed for his survival in the apartment.  Jack went so far as to set up a military allotment to be deposited in an account of Carrie's choosing for half of the military pay he received each pay period.  Carrie's allotment was set up to last for an indefinite period of time.

Both Carrie and Jack were aware that as long as they remained married the military would provide Jack with an additional amount of money each pay period as long as he was classified as "married."  

Carrie and Jack each went their separate ways and verbally agreed to live their own lives under these circumstances.  Jack didn't want to hurt Carrie and realized she had a problem so he did not file for divorce.  Carrie did not seek any form of rehabilitation but she knew that if she filed for divorce she would get less money from Jack, so she never filed either.

Finally, Jack retired from the military in 2000 and the allotment to Carrie ceased pursuant to the military's own administrative guidelines.  Jack then began receiving a military pension for his 20 years of military service.

When the military allotment ceased, Carrie sought legal advice in Rhode Island where she had been living for the past 12 years and made a substantial claim for Jack's pension and other assets he had accumulated while they had been living separately.

Jack was surprised to learn that although the Rhode Island judge could certainly consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding the divorce, Rhode Island law did allow Carrie to claim that at least a portion of Jack's military pension was "marital" because it accrued while the parties were legally married and absent a Rhode Island or Federal Law which instructed the Rhode Island Family Court otherwise, the pension could be considered marital if the court made a finding that all or a portion of the pension was marital and should be equitably split between the parties as the court saw fit after trial.

Jack was not happy about the divorce proceedings.  All this time he thought he had "done the right thing" for Carrie and now she wanted even more and Jack didn't want to give more.  Jack felt he had given enough and he was willing to fight for his military pension as a non-marital asset because he had already given Carrie what amounted to more than her share.  In Jack's eyes he had already given more than he would have been ordered to give by any divorce court.

Perhaps the greatest thing to keep in mind regarding a scenario where you and your spouse separate all your assets and debts and live completely separate but you do not terminate your marriage legally is this. . . YOU ARE STILL MARRIED!

Can you answer these questions?

1.  Can Jack argue that since he and Carrie separated everything at the time they personally terminated their own marital relationship with each other that any asset accumulated after that time is non-marital?

2.  If Carrie runs up credit card debt in order to support herself during the time that she is separated from Jack, could a Rhode Island Family Court Judge find the credit card debt to be marital debt?

3.  If Carrie builds up an IRA plan during the time she is separated from but still married to Jack, does Jack have a reasonable claim to a part of that IRA plan if he didn't contribute to it?

4.  If Carrie has a child during the time she is separated from Jack and there is no name specified as the father of the child on the birth certificate, is it possible that Jack might have to pay child support for that child?

5.  Are there any federal laws which trump state law regarding any of these issues and decide the question for us so that the question(s) become a non-issue?

6.  Do you see the other eight (8) important legal questions/issues that a skilled divorce lawyer might address with you if you were either Jack or Carrie?  

If you do not see the other important legal questions/issues in this scenario, then you either need some professional RI Divorce Coaching or representation by a good Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer.

Authored By:

Christopher A. Pearsall, Attorney-at-Law

Rhode Island's Full-Time Divorce* Lawyer is Now
Rhode Island's Only Divorce and Family Law Coach!!

Discover the Tremendous Benefits You Receive by 

Participating in Family Law Coaching Sessions!

Consider using the RhodeIslandDivorceCoach.com

Call (401) 632-6976 Now
to
Schedule Your Low-Cost Rhode Island Divorce* or Family Law* Coaching Session!

Experience the Difference!

Copyright 2009.  Christopher A. Pearsall, Esquire
 Offering Rhode Island Rhode Island Divorce and Family Law Coaching for a New Millenium!

* The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all attorneys in the general practice of law.  There is no recognition for specialization of attorneys in any area of law.

- - Recommended Websites - -

Pearsall.net | AttorneyPearsall.com | Rhode Island Divorce Tips | ChristopherPearsall.com | GuaranteedWealth.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer | ChrisPearsall.com | LegalScholar.com | Pearsall-Law-Associates.com | Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers | Rhode Island Divorce Coach  |  RI Divorce Coach | RI Divorce Lawyer on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Coach on Twitter | Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer on Facebook.com | Rhode Island Home Buying Tips | Attorney Chris Pearsall at LawGuru.com