THE HAWK FIRM
Jacque Dulaine Hawk And Associates
437 Walker Street(706) 724-8537
Augusta, GA 30901724-8577
Fax 724-5418
CONTESTED DIVORCE
Welcome to the Hawk Firm. You have a contested divorce information sheet. All the information requested is vital to properly investigate and handle your case. We want to obtain the best possible results, so be as detailed and accurate as possible. If you have information, please attach it to the interview sheet.
WHAT IS DONE
When your claim is started we will immediately prepare all proper pleadings in order to protect your interests. We will interview witnesses on your behalf. We will request any and all documents and seek out any and all evidence which may help to protect you and get you the best possible result regarding your divorce.
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU AS A CLIENT
In order for us to properly handle your claim, we will need your utmost cooperation. If the attorney needs to see you, he will write a letter and request that you come in or he will give you a telephone call. All clients are required to make an appointment before coming in, as this is the only way to allow the attorney to properly plan his time in order to set aside time to work on your file.
It is your duty as a client to keep your attorney informed of a current address and telephone number where you may be reached at all times. It will also be requested that you not make any unnecessary phone calls unless there is a dire emergency, as this only prevents the attorney from being able to work on your file. All phone calls will be billed at a rate of $20.00 for every 5 minutes on the phone, with a minimum of $20.00 for any call. The charges for phone calls include calls to the secretary, the paralegal, or any other office personnel.
The attorney handling your case is skilled and knowledgeable of the regarding divorce and he will be in charge of running the case and deciding how best to proceed during the entire handling of the matter. It is the duty of the client to follow the attorney’s advice in order to get the very best result.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE
It will take us approximately 1 week to begin your file. Once your file is started, it will be placed with an employee for appropriate investigation and follow up. All we need for you to do is to follow our advice with regard to the handling of your claim. Divorce cases can take anywhere from 1 month to a year and a half to get through the trial stage. It depends on how many Motions and general progress of the case which is sometimes dependent upon Motions filed by the other attorney and matters to be decided by the Court. Divorces can also take a longer period of time if appeals are taken. Although we will try to resolve your case to your satisfaction within the minimum amount of time, our main concern will be to get you the very best result under the facts and circumstances of your case. Sometimes that does take longer.
Your main role will be to follow our advice. If you are needed for anything regarding your case, you will be contacted. Please try no to contact your attorney and/or office staff unnecessarily as is only interferes with our ability to work on your case.
WHAT YOU MUST PAY
The contested divorce is generally handled on an hourly fee arrangement after the payment of an initial retainer fee before any representation is to be provided by the attorney. The initial retainer fee must be paid in full before the beginning of your case, and is non-refundable. This means that if your case is resolved with a minimal amount of work, the minimum retainer fee shall not be refunded and shall be deemed a reasonable fee for services performed in order to resolve your case. This includes the situation where the spouses decided to resume the marriage and abandon the divorce proceedings.
The hourly fee will be charged in addition to the retainer fee, once the amount of the retainer fee is used up. In other words, the retainer fee is an advice payment on the hourly basis, however, under no circumstances is it refundable. Arrangements must be made in order to secure the payments of any fees which accrue which are above and beyond the initial non-refundable retainer fee. The attorney will do his best to estimate the approximate cost of handling your divorce and will request that any amounts not paid, be secured by some form of property or security which will guarantee the payment of the fee agreement to aloe your fee to be paid on a payment basis is left to the sole discretion of the attorney who is handling your case. Those arrangements must be worked out between the client and attorney with some form of appropriate security.
OTHER COST
Other cost which may be incurred during handling of your case will include Court cost, any medical records or reports fees, investigative costs, cost for any experts, cost of taking and transcribing and statements, cost of taking depositions, incidental subpoena fees, and mailing costs.
We look forward to working with you in this case. When you hire me, you hire everyone. All of our personnel are here to help you. If the attorney is not available, please ask any and all questions you may have to the next available employee. We will try to obtain an appropriate response for you. Please do not contact the law office unnecessarily as it only interferes with the time available that the attorney has to work on your case. If you are needed, you will be contacted by your attorney.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU
Divorce Work Sheet
Husband:
Full Name: Telephone Number:
Address:
County: Age: D.O.B.:
S.S.N.: Birthplace:
# of Previous Marriages:
Parent’s Names:
Address:
Telephone Number:
Email:
Wife:
Full Name: Telephone Number:
Address:
County: Age: D.O.B.:
S.S.N.: Birthplace:
# of Previous Marriages:
Parent’s Names:
Address:
Telephone Number:
Email:
Marital Information:(Common Law, Licensed)
Date of Present Marriage:City/State/Zip:
# of Previous Separations: Date of Separation:
Last Date of Cohabitation: Living Apart Now: YesNo
Will be Living Apart:YesNo
Have You Been a Resident of Georgia Longer Than Six (6) Months? Yes No
Children of Marriage:
Full NamesBirth or Age, Birthdate, Who has, Who wants, Sex
of Children,Adoption, Custody Custody
Prior Litigation/Third Party Claim to Child/Where Lived
Do you or your spouse have any children by a previous marriage?YesNo
How many?
Do you or your spouse received child support for these children?YesNo
Amount:Ages:
Husband:
Employer: Telephone Number:
Address:
Occupation:Length of Employment:
Prior Employment:
Gross Salary: Weekly/Monthly/Yearly$
Net Salary: Weekly/Monthly/Yearly$
Investment Income:$
Other Income:$
Total Income:$
Education of Husband:
Wife:
Employer: Telephone Number:
Address:
Occupation:Length of Employment:
Prior Employment:
Gross Salary: Weekly/Monthly/Yearly$
Net Salary: Weekly/Monthly/Yearly$
Investment Income:$
Other Income:$
Total Income:$
Education of Husband:
Family Residence: Purchasing Home Rental Apt.
Title Vested In: HusbandWifeBoth
Description:
1st Mortgage Holder:$
Address:
2nd Mortgage Holder:$
Address:
Lis Pendens: Yes No Value Today: $
Who currently has possession: Husband WifeEquity $
Do you desire residence: Yes No
Vehicles:
I. (a) Description:Orig. Value $
(b) Titled Vested In:Value Now $
(c) Mortgage Holder:Mo. Payment $
(d) Date Paid Off:Bal. Owed $
II. (a) Description:Orig. Value $
(b) Titled Vested In:Value Now $
(c) Mortgage Holder:Mo. Payment $
(d) Date Paid Off:Bal. Owed $
III. (a) Description:Orig. Value $
(b) Titled Vested In:Value Now $
(c) Mortgage Holder:Mo. Payment $
(d) Date Paid Off:Bal. Owed $
Which vehicle do you desire?
Who will pay remaining payments?
Boats/Trailers/Airplanes
I. (a) Description:Orig. Value $
(b) Titled Vested In:Value Now $
(c) Mortgage Holder:Mo. Payment $
(d) Date Paid Off:Bal. Owed $
II. (a) Description:Orig. Value $
(b) Titled Vested In:Value Now $
(c) Mortgage Holder:Mo. Payment $
(d) Date Paid Off:Bal. Owed $
Which vehicle do you desire?
Who will pay remaining payments?
Furniture and Furnishing:(List Items you desire)
Description:Present Value:Description:Present Value:
$ $ $ $
$$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Furniture and Furnishing:(List Items you are willing to give to spouse)
Description:Present Value:Description:Present Value:
$ $ $ $
$$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Debts of Marriage:
Name orName ofWhat WasAccount Amounts
Account Company Purchased Number Owed
Life Insurance:
Policy Name, Hus./Wife, Face Amt., Cash Value Amt., Beneficiary
Medical Insurance:
Company Name, Where, Hus./Wife, Pymt. Amt., Payroll DCD’s
Health of Parties and Children:
Psychological Treatment:
Checking Accounts:
Name on Acct.Name of InstitutionAcct. No.Balance
Address
Address
Saving Accounts/Certificates or Deposit/Money Market Funds:
Name on Acct.,Description, Name on Institution, Acct. No., Bal.
Jewelry and Collectibles of value:
Description:Where Held:Estimated Value:
$
$
$
$
IRA’s/Retirement Plans/Profit Sharing Plans:
Name on Acct.,Description,Name of Institution,Acct. No.,Bal.
Real Property Other Than Martial Residence:
Description:
1st Mortgage Holder:$
Address:
2nd Mortgage Holder:$
Address:
Lis Pendens:YesNoValue Today:$
Who currently has possession: Husband WifeEquity$
Please list any additional personal or real property which has not been previously listed in this space or on the reverse side:
CONTESTED DIVORCE FEE AGREEMENT
(hereinafter“Client”) hereby
Retains Jacque D. Hawk (hereinafter “Attorney”) to represent Client in the following matter:
Attorney hereby accepts this employment and agrees to use their best efforts to represent Client in this matter upon the following conditions:
- Client shall pay Attorney the sum of $immediately as a non-refundable retainer and deposit against fees for total time and service and $ immediately as a non-refundable deposit against costs and expensive.
- Client agrees to pay Attorney for representation of Client at the following rate: $ per hour.
- Client agrees to pay in addition to fees for services, all expenses incurred associated with this matter as the same accrue, including but not limited to Court costs, duplicating costs, court reporter fees, investigations, long distance telephone charges, medical fees, and travel expenses. The Attorney is not required to advance these sums or otherwise finance the litigation.
- Attorneys will regularly send Client a statement of their fees when the retainer is expected and expenses incurred; and Client agrees to remit all of these sums promptly and in any event shall pay said sums by the due date of the statement. The statement will reflect time, services and costs for conferences, telephone calls, drafting and reviewing of documents and letters, research, court times, expenses and any services rendered associated with this matter. Total time cannot be determined in advance. Any errors in the statement shall be brought to the attention of “Attorneys” within ten (10) days of the date of the statement. Any unresolved fee disputes shall be submitted by the Client to the State Bar of Georgia Fee Arbitration Committee for resolution.
- Any awards of fees or expenses to Attorneys by the Court to be paid by another party in this matter will be credited, when paid, to the balance owed by the Client over the retainer.
- All unpaid sums billed to the Client shall become a lien upon the estate of the Client, including real and personal property.
- It is agreed that Attorneys have made no guarantees regarding successful termination of Client’s representation, and all expressions relative thereto are a matter of Attorney’s opinion only.
- Attorneys further reserve the right to require an additional retainer and cost deposit in the same amount as set forth in Section (1) upon the retainer in Section (1) being exhausted, and reserve the right to increase hourly rates set forth herein when the retainer is exhausted.
- Attorneys reserve the right to terminate this employment of agreement for non-payment of retainer, cost deposit, fees, expenses, or if agreement is not fully executed within thirty (30) days of the date set forth below.
ClientAttorney
DateDate