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Today, I’m welcoming Lisa Zahn, Esq to the show. I can’t imagine anyone more qualified to speak about how to become a better negotiator than an attorney who has successfully negotiated everything from multi-million dollar property settlements to who gets the dog. It’s no wonder she was voted Texas Super Lawyer in 2013, 2014 and 2015 by Texas Monthly Magazine and listed in Best Lawyers in America in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

How to Become a BETTER Negotiator – with Lisa Zahn, Esq.

On this episode of D’fine Your Health with Danielle Girdano, Strength through knowledge we talk with legal expert Lisa Zahn about the legal side of health, safety and well being!

Lisa Zahn Discusses The Legal Side of Health, Safety and Well Being

Divorce and attorney’s fees are expensive. The whole process is unpleasant and stressful. You’re burdened enough with the changes in your life, and then you get hit with an invoice from your attorney. Yikes.

You don’t want to cut corners with such an important process, but it is possible to keep your attorney’s fees to a minimum. Below are six simple ways to make that happen. Not only will following these tips help your wallet, but they also make your time with your attorney more efficient and effective.

– 1 –

Limit Your Calls and Emails – Save Them Up!

Attorneys bill you for the time they spend corresponding with you – be it by call, text, or email. It can be convenient to shoot your lawyer a quick question via text and get a response ASAP, but is it necessary? 

Limit your emails and other forms of contact to no more than once a day. Save up your questions and comments and send them all at once. The same goes for sending documents or “homework” your attorney has requested.

Sending communications in bulk helps your attorney stay organized. It makes it easier for them to focus on your case and prepare their response efficiently. That, in turn, saves them time and saves you money.

– 2 –

Understand and Complete Your “Homework” in its Entirety

Your attorney may need you to complete various tasks as part of the proceedings. No matter how simple or complex, take the time to read their instructions thoroughly. Then, read them a second time. Make sure you understand what your attorney needs from you, and do it. 

If you rush through everything you’re asked to complete, your attorney can waste a lot of time. Catching your mistakes and following up to get what they need adds up on an invoice. It’s a waste of your time and you will pay your attorney as a result. So take the time upfront to get that “homework” done properly.

– 3 –

Keep Communication in Professional Channels

Today’s world is more connected than ever. Everyone struggles with keeping up, and your attorney is no exception. Even if you have their personal contact info, stick with their office phone and email. It helps them stay organized.

Of course, unless there’s an emergency.

– 4 –

When It Comes to Agreements, Be Flexible

The truth is, in a divorce, there are no winners. Don’t stand on principle and refuse to reach an agreement. The process doesn’t need to be combative, and this kind of mentality can cost a lot of time. Time is expensive for your attorney, and thus, you.

There are situations where you shouldn’t accept an agreement, where being firm is vital to the safety and well-being of yourself, your children, or your family. This tip doesn’t cover these dire situations. Stay firm, and know your attorney is there to guide you and give you advice  for exactly this purpose.

– 5 –

Seek Advice Before Major Decisions

Your choices and actions during these proceedings have significant consequences. If you’re faced with a major decision, loop your attorney in. They can offer guidance and information of which you may not be aware. For example, if you are tired of driving your old jalopy, do not upgrade to a Ferrari. Call your lawyer first!

Give your lawyer a chance to offer her advice. Their expertise will prevent mistakes and missteps you aren’t aware can be damaging. Addressing those errors can, at best, cost more time at your expense. At worst, they can make your goals for the divorce far more challenging. 

– 6 –

Your Lawyer is There for a Reason – Take Their Counsel Seriously

It’s easy to get wrapped up in what others have done or are doing. We naturally compare ourselves and our lives to others. But in something as personal as a divorce, what works for your friends or family may not be right for you.

Your lawyer is there to help you in your unique circumstances. You shouldn’t blindly follow any advice, even from a lawyer, but give it serious consideration. You may have well-meaning people in your life whose advice just isn’t right for your legal situation. Comparing trusted advice to your lawyer’s guidance can help you make these important and difficult decisions.

Remember that your situation is unique to you. Your attorney may have different preferences. Don’t be afraid to ask, “What should I do to save you time and keep my fees down”. A good attorney isn’t trying to wring every penny out of you, and they’ll be happy to work with you to save themselves time and you money.

In today’s world, you can do just about anything online. You can get a degree, buy a car, and even run a business online with little to no in-person requirements. The convenience alone is a welcome relief to our busy lives, but that convenience comes with a false sense of security. Do-it-yourself tasks online don’t always guarantee you’ve done everything you need to do.

Divorces can be done online, technically. But hidden challenges and complexities come to haunt former couples who thought the whole thing was over. You don’t know what you don’t know. Still, the task of finding an attorney and going through the process the old-fashioned way is overwhelming. And often more expensive than many folks can afford.

Choosing between the ease and convenience of an online divorce or the security and expertise of a more traditional route is not a simple decision. Unfortunately, it’s one that can have serious and long-term consequences. So, how do you choose? What do you need to know?

As a family law attorney well-versed in divorce proceedings, I can offer my insight and experience to help you make your decision. One blog post isn’t enough to recommend what every person should do. However, I can offer you a few things you need to know before you make your decision. 

1. Your divorce will be final, until it’s not.

Final should be final. Except, if your divorce isn’t handled properly, you may end up back in court down the road. 

If you have no assets, no kids, no debt, and you’ve been married only a short time, then you might be okay. You don’t need to worry about custody, visitations, retirements, alimony, or any of the other complicated parts of divorce. You may very well be a good candidate for doing your divorce online.

If you’re like most Americans, you’ll have at least one of these things. Online forms for divorce aren’t always complex enough. If the form doesn’t sufficiently breakdown who gets what, you’ll end up back in court to make that division. And if you or your spouse has a 401K that should have been divided between you, you’ll need another form (a QDRO) as well. This doesn’t even begin to touch on the complexities involved with children in a divorce. 

2. You’ll be guessing when filling out forms.

Chances are, you are not a divorce attorney. This isn’t your specialty, and it is complicated. When you go to complete the forms you need, doing so on your own may leave you feeling overwhelmed, confused, and frustrated. You can search the Internet for advice, but you can’t always trust what you find. 

This isn’t the kind of thing you want to guess on.

3. Filling out forms does not prepare you for the courthouse.

“Online” divorce is misleading – you will need to visit the courthouse at some point. Forms in hand, you’ll head up to the courthouse in your most professional attire and…do what?

Where will you go? To whom do you need to speak? In what courtroom?  Do you have everything you need?

If you can enter the courthouse knowing all the answers, then that’s wonderful. But most people don’t have the time, energy, or desire to teach themselves something they hope to never do again. 

Divorce is complicated. If you’re well-situated for a simple online divorce, then maybe that’s the right choice for you. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case. You’re dealing with enough on your end. Doing all the research needed to accurately complete your divorce online – or taking the risk without the research – may not be worth the “convenience” of doing it online.

Consider your options first, and make sure to pick the route that works best for you and your family.

Anticipating child support costs can be intimidating and complicated. Whether you’re the primary caregiver or the parent who will be paying child support, getting the information you need to budget and plan can feel impossible. Every case is different, and every child and family is different, but you can do some simple calculations to get an idea of what to expect. 

Guideline Child Support

There are some misconceptions about the “guideline” child support described in the Texas Family Code. This refers to the specific percentage of the paying parent’s income that will be paid in child support each month. This isn’t guaranteed to be the exact number, but a baseline.

How much is this percentage? That depends on how many children a parent is supporting. The percentage starts at 20% and goes up 5% for each additional child. 

However, these percentages can change depending on the paying parent’s circumstances. For example, if the paying parent has another child living at home with him, that base percentage starts at 17.5% instead of 20%.

Ex. Sam and Alex are divorced. Alex has primary custody of their four children, and in their case, Sam is responsible for paying child support. Based on this information alone, Sam would be paying 35% of his monthly net resources in child support.

Defining “Income”a

After figuring out the percentage a parent must pay in child support, the next step is to determine that parent’s “net monthly resources.” This is the “income” used with that percentage to determine the specific dollar amount they pay each month.

What is “net monthly resources”? This is the total monthly wages, minus taxes withheld, minus the monthly cost of the child’s health insurance premiums. 

This number cannot exceed $8,550 per month. That means if a parent’s take home pay after taxes and the child’s health insurance is over $8,550, the parent will not pay child support based on earnings greater than $8,550.

In addition to earnings, net monthly resources include dividends earned in the stock market, a company car, royalties, trust income, or other forms of income. However a stepparent’s net monthly resources may not be used to calculate a parent’s child support obligation.

The guideline child support and net monthly resources are determined. All that’s left is to multiply them to determine how much child support will be paid monthly in Texas. However, there are more factors to consider.

Special Circumstances

The guideline child support is a baseline percentage. There are many factors that could lead to a parent paying more than guideline child support, such as a child’s special needs. For example, an autistic child who requires counseling, special schooling, or occupational therapy, may also require more than guideline child support. If, when, and how much are determined by the court on a case-by-case basis, but guideline child support is always the starting point.

WAIT! Listen to This Before You Hire Your Divorce Attorney…

In this episode of the Functional Divorce with Dr. Karen Finn podcast, Karen speaks with Lisa Zahn, a board-certified family law attorney with Zahn Family Law in North Texas. Karen and Lisa discuss how to make selecting and working with a divorce lawyer less intimidating and less expensive. You can learn more about Lisa at ZahnFamilyLaw.com.

WAIT! Listen to This Before You Hire Your Divorce Attorney – a podcast featuring Lisa Zahn