Nationally-published author as featured on TODAY and GOOD MORNING AMERICA Communicating effectively in your conversations with your divorce attorney will keep costs down. Keep notes of the information your divorce attorney gives you during consultations and telephone calls. Keep a file of all your paperwork. Review all this information before calling your attorney. Often, the question may have already been answered and you may not remember because of the complexity of the new issues you are facing.  Save several questions for each contact instead of calling your attorney every day to ask a different question. E-mail is often a wonderfully effective way to keep track of information. One of the biggest complaints about attorneys is that you can't get them on the telephone. If you compare your attorney to your doctor and how often you can get him or her to come to the telephone, this will put this problem in perspective.  Do not leave repeated messages for your attorney, as you are often charged for the review of each message. The more messages to review, the longer it will take the attorney to call you back. If you have repeated problems and your telephone calls are not returned within approximately 48 hours, hire another attorney.  Most attorneys return calls early in the morning or after 5.  When providing your attorney with documentation, fill all forms out COMPLETELY. When your attorney's office has to call you back to find out the legal description of your home or the Vehicle Identification Number on your car because you didn't bother to provide them, you are being charged.  If you have problems with your attorney and do not believe you are getting your money's worth, contact your state bar association for information on reporting the attorney. The Texas State Bar web site is www.texasbar.com. If your divorce is a highly-charged emotional experience for you, as it can be for many, remember your attorney is not a therapist. Seeking a counselor to discuss your emotions is much cheaper than hiring an attorney to listen repeatedly to the same stories of what your spouse did to you. Attorneys and courts are interested in facts, i.e., how much property, how much debt, how can it be fairly divided, etc. In the vast majority of cases, your divorce will be granted on a no-fault basis, not on the basis of who is to blame. Personal property, except for motor vehicles, is called "pots and pans" by the legal community. Don't spend $400-$1,200 an hour for two attorneys to argue over who gets the couch.  . Houston Divorce Lawyer | FAQs | Lower Legal Fees | Publications | Legal Resources Copyright © 2007 Houston Divorce Lawyer. All Rights Reserved.