| Anyone that has ever experienced a Divorce | | | | wrong attorney can cost you thousands of dollars |
| involving a child custody battle (especially involving | | | | and ultimately even your children! |
| Parental Alienation) is painfully aware that the | | | | 2. Your attorney is not a counselor - Be direct and |
| attorney fees involved can be astronomical! | | | | focused whenever you interact with them. |
| The family court system is actually set up to | | | | 3. Never communicate with your attorney without |
| generate litigation. Don't ever forget that, or you will | | | | thinking through and developing a written list of |
| end up giving away everything you and your spouse | | | | topics to discuss first. |
| have worked so hard for all of your years together. | | | | 4. Always combine any correspondence or phone |
| The attorneys and courts are the only ones making | | | | calls with as much information as possible when |
| money, and you are the ones paying them! | | | | communicating with your attorney. |
| The purpose of this article is to help the parents and | | | | 5. Never set up a remote meeting for your attorney |
| families involved in these highly litigated cases, to | | | | unless there is no other choice (unless you don't mind |
| reduce or control the costs associated with the | | | | paying for their travel time). |
| family court system. | | | | 6. Obtain certified copies of court records when |
| Some animosity and conflict are normal in any family | | | | necessary for hearings. |
| going through the process of divorce. It is never | | | | 7. Order any recorded versions or transcripts from |
| admirable or desired but most parents say or do | | | | the court yourself. |
| things they later regret as it pertains to their spouse | | | | 8. Make copies of documentation when needed. |
| during this time. | | | | 9. Take filings to court yourself. |
| Having said that, Parental Alienation (sometimes | | | | 10. Maintain control of your emotions and your ability |
| referred to as Parental Alienation Syndrome) is a | | | | to reason as you work through this difficult process - |
| terrible form of child abuse that can deeply hurt your | | | | Don't get pushed into needless litigation! |
| children. PA is when one parent intentionally alienates | | | | The strategies shared here are from my personal |
| or turns the children against the other "targeted" | | | | (and expensive) education in this arena, as well as |
| parent. This type of abuse has become more and | | | | establishing a global ministry for other families |
| more prevalent in the last several years, and has | | | | experiencing the same circumstances in their own life. |
| resulted in escalating damage to children, as well as | | | | Please use these strategies whenever possible. |
| much higher attorney fees to families involved in | | | | Although they won't eliminate the pain associated |
| these cases. | | | | with these issues, they can and will eliminate some of |
| Divorce is never easy, but nasty divorces that include | | | | the expense. |
| these type of child custody cases are the worst. | | | | There are additional resources available at our |
| While every effort should be made to protect your | | | | website to assist you in finding, interviewing and |
| children from this type of abuse, doing so can be | | | | selecting the best attorney for your case, including a |
| very expensive. | | | | directory of Divorce and Parental Alienation |
| Here are 10 specific strategies to reduce your | | | | Attorneys. There are many other valuable divorce |
| attorney fees during the process: | | | | and parental alienation resources available there as |
| 1. Choose the right attorney! I cannot over | | | | well. |
| emphasize the importance of this step. Choosing the | | | | |