Should I Tell My Divorce Lawyer Everything? (And What Happens if You Don’t)

Divorce is never easy. It is fraught with emotion and extremely personal. And sometimes, there are things you may want to keep to yourself when going through the throes of divorce. But when you hire a divorce lawyer, you are hiring your staunchest legal advocate. If you keep information from that legal representative, it can hurt you in the end. Hiring a divorce lawyer means that you are hiring someone that you must trust enough to share the good, the bad, and the ugly with.

Disclosure is Key

When you have a divorce lawyer representing your legal interests, it’s important to disclose any relevant information to ensure that he or she has the facts to represent you to the fullest. This often means sharing information that you may not be proud of. But having it out in the open enables your lawyer to proactively deal with it instead of reactively dealing with it.

These can be things that your spouse may bring up and have evidence of such as

● Physical abuse, mental abuse, or cruelty
● Sexual infidelity
● Drug or alcohol addiction
● Mental health diagnosis
● A prior criminal record
● Hidden assets

Keeping this kind of information from your divorce lawyer can set you up for problems when they invariably come to light and can keep your lawyer from being able to assist you strategically to your benefit.

Confidentiality and Your NYC Divorce Lawyer

Attorney-client privilege states that all communications between you and your lawyer are confidential. Your lawyer cannot divulge anything you have told him or her or share it with others. This is purposely meant to encourage a client to be open with their lawyer so he or she can effectively represent you.

Whenever you meet with your lawyer, you should be able to feel confident that whatever you say will go no further, even if what you tell your attorney is not something you are particularly proud of. It’s better to get in front of that information than behind it.

Hiding Assets Will Often Work Against You in the End

It is human not to want to lose assets in a divorce, especially if it is acrimonious. But hiding assets is never a good idea and your spouse’s lawyer has many ways of tracking down assets through forensic accountants and deposing others to testify. This not only works to your disadvantage in the eyes of the court but it ends up costing you more in attorney’s fees in defending your case.

When Damaging Information Comes Out

Damaging information has a way of coming out. If it does later along in the case or at trial, you have given your lawyer no opportunity to prepare a defense and represent you. Keeping information from your lawyer is counterproductive and a bad idea. Your lawyer will have had experience dealing with most issues and will know how to frame them to lessen the severity for you.

If you and your spouse are considering a divorce, your first priority is to find an attorney that you feel comfortable with. At the Law Offices of Juan Luciano, we have represented clients since 2008 through some of the most difficult times of their lives. We take the time to listen and guide you, no matter what your situation may be. Call us for an initial consultation to discuss your needs.

Juan Luciano Divorce Lawyer Juan Luciano https://divorcelawfirmnyc.com/should-i-tell-my-divorce-lawyer-everything-and-what-happens-if-you-dont/ Should I Tell My Divorce Lawyer Everything? (And What Happens if You Don’t)

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