If it appears that you may have a claim and you plan to speak to an attorney, gather your records and fill in this checklist that will detail your income and property.

Once you finish the alimony and property quizzes you may have a rough idea whether you might want to pursue a claim for alimony and or property.  The Checklist will take some time to fill out but it will help your attorney make an assessment more quickly. 

Why pay an attorney to organize your records?  This will save you time and money.  The best use of your attorneys time will be to analyze what you have collected and to help fill in any gaps you may have left.  You can also use the same process to prepare to negotiate with your spouse.  

Question 3 - How much can I afford to spend on my case? (Be realistic)

It is never easy to find extra money in one’s daily budget.  However, whatever action you take (even if you decide to represent yourself) will cost money, time or other resources. You may revise the figure after finishing the Checklist.

If your answer is “It’s not the money, it’s the principle”, you should take a step back and reconsider. There may be a principle involved, but this analysis is still about money. Quantify what the principle is worth to you in hard, after-tax dollars. It makes a big difference if the principle costs $5,000 rather than $500. WouldnÂ’t you rather spend that money on a vacation or your kid’s braces?

Question 4 - What things can I do myself?

Before deciding, also look at the

• Self Quiz on Traits and Skills of Successful Self-Represented Litigants(all family law cases), and the

• Marital Property(divorce only) and

• Alimony(divorce only)quizzes.

You may also need to locate some of your "Vital Records," which may be missing.  Having all your information available will save you time and effort.

Are you ready to do your homework?

This will mean going to the library if necessary. If the problem involves court, sit in the back of the court and observe how to behave in a courtroom before trying it yourself. If you are handling your own case, the court staff offers some Common Mistakes to avoid.  At a minimum, start with the following analysis:  

#1  Based on Question 1, What needs to be done?,  list each task in order of priority.
#2  Estimate the cost for each task. 
#3  Compare this list to your total litigation budget (estimated in Question 3).

Question 5 - How do I find the right person to help me?  

Some attorneys may be willing to provide you with limited services.  Attorneys often refer to these services as "unbundled".  You can hire the attorney and you can pick which services you want the attorney to perform and which services you can perform yourself.  For example if you want advice only, it can be purchased at an initial consultation or throughout the case.  Another example is that your attorney would teach you how to negotiate with opposing parties, court clerks, and governmental agencies.

Only Hire a Lawyer With Expertise in Family Law. A lawyer who normally handles personal injury law or corporate matters may not be as useful in a divorce as a specialist in family law who sees cases like yours daily. Maryland does not allow attorneys to state that they specialize in family law. There are no specialty designations for attorneys in the State of Maryland. However, firms are permitted to state that they limit their practice to family law, which means that they do not practice in other areas of the law.  Another indication that a law firm has expertise in family law is if the firm is known to take on pro bono cases in family law.  A pro bono case is a case that the firm takes on for no fee or a reduced fee because the client is financially eligible for such assistance, by criteria established by local bar associations or the Maryland State Bar Association.

• You can also ask what part of the lawyer's practice is devoted to domestic law cases. The Peoples Law Library has help on how to find an attorney. You may be able to find attorneys who will help you through the process without requiring that they represent you in the case. 

• Use the L.A.W. database to see if there might be a provider in the state that offers free help on cases like yours.  It is unlikely you will find someone to represent you in a divorce unless there has been abuse in your marriage.  You can also look for a private attorney to help you.

• The self help classes in the state can be a major source of help. The Peoples Law Library has a list of self help providers in Maryland.