Second Opinions in Divorce Cases
A second opinion is meeting with an attorney, other than one’s current attorney, in order to obtain a different point of view on the specifics of your case. A second opinion may be valuable if you feel uncomfortable with your current lawyer’s strategy or skill. A second opinion may also be helpful before deciding whether to accept a negotiated settlement or going to trial.
Keep in mind, however, that the law, especially family law, is an art, not a science. The experience and biases of attorneys and judges vary significantly, which can lead to differing perspectives and opinions. Alimony, for example, is one of the more difficult issues to resolve in a divorce. Unlike child support where there is a formula, or community property which is presumed to be equally divided, there is no legal formula in Nevada to determine alimony. Alimony is supposed to be calculated on a case by case basis. If you surveyed ten different qualified Nevada family law attorneys or family court judges, you could likely get ten different opinions on the amount and duration of alimony and some cases. If an attorney suggests that you accept a specific alimony award, it is important for the attorney to articulate the basis for his or her opinion. Second opinions can be particularly helpful in alimony cases.
The Las Vegas family law attorneys the Pecos Law Group have more than 100 years of combined experience with Nevada family law issues, including alimony. For more information on alimony in Nevada, please review the articles on our blog.