Setting a divorce the right way requires knowing your options for lawyers. Here are questions to ask attorneys for divorces before hiring.
Going through a divorce is always a heart-wrenching experience for most people. Contrary to what you may think, though, splitting up the family is not the worst part. The kids will always be okay as long as both of you are willing to be supportive.
The worst part about divorce that no one really talks about is the legal bills associated with the process. Most attorneys for divorces are excellent at what they do. Others will drag the process and do what they know best, which is charging every little thing they possibly can.
They will take advantage of the fact that you’re an emotional wreck at this point, who’s possibly being triggered by anger. For this reason alone, you need to make sure that you find a professional and competent divorce attorney.
With a market size worth a whopping $11 billion, how do you find the right attorney? In this post, we bring you a comprehensive list of all the important questions you need to ask potential divorce lawyers before hiring.
No. 1: Does Your Law Firm Focus on Divorce and Family Law?
Choosing the right divorce attorney to represent you in a family law matter is, by far, one of the best decisions you will make. Without a doubt, you want to get the most favorable results for everyone, especially your children, if you have any. The more selective you are, the higher the chance that you’ll be dealing with a competent, mature, and professional attorney that will look out for you.
Divorce law happens to be quite intricate, and what you need right now is a seasoned and focused attorney that specializes in family law. Inquire whether they have tried divorce cases, dealt with complicated asset divisions, contested custody, and how many of those cases have been successful.
An attorney that specializes in divorce and family law will guide you through the process efficiently and fluidly. They will have an understanding of all the laws and rules in the civil procedure and the local courts in the state of filing a divorce.
No. 2: Will You Handle My Case or Hand It Over to Another Attorney?
Most attorneys for divorces with law firms usually hand off most cases to their junior associates as they handle major cases. This is not to say that the junior associates are not as competent, but it’s imperative for you to know whether the attorney you’re currently interviewing is the one who will handle your case.
Allowing them to hand off your case to the attorney with the lightest schedule is usually not a good thing, so ask to interview the attorney that will specifically handle your case.
This will give you an opportunity to gauge how friendly they are, whether you can get along with them, whether they are professional enough, and whether they are experienced in the field. It’s important for you to have a working relationship that’s built on trust when you embark on this journey with your attorney of choice.
No. 3: How Much Will Representation Cost?
How much does a divorce cost? It’s imperative for you to know from the word go how much legal representation will cost you. Inquire how much in upfront fees they charge and their billing practices so you know when fees are expected.
Some attorneys for divorces will ask for different charges for different tasks. Others may charge a fixed rate regardless of how much effort goes into your divorce process. You may also find that your divorce attorney charges a higher rate for appearing in court.
This makes it important for you to understand all the fees involved to avoid surprises later on. Comparing attorney fees is an essential part of finding the best divorce lawyer for your case.
No. 4: Have You Been Sanctioned for Ethical Violation?
This is, by far, one of the most vital questions you have to ask attorneys for divorces. Divorce lawyers, or other lawyers for that matter, are held to very high ethical standards regarding their practice and customer services. The state bar regulates members with disciplinary actions and sanctions to punish any professional misconduct.
When grievances are filed against attorneys, it may lead to probation, restitution, suspension, revocation of their license, or being reprimanded.
Regardless of what they got, you need to know whether the attorney you’re dealing with is competent, professional, and ethical in practice. If they have been sanctioned before, then you may not know if they’ll do something wrong in your case as well, so it will be hard to trust them completely.
No. 5: Will You Provide Me With Copies of All Documents?
It’s important for you to have copies of all documents whenever you need them, but you need to be certain that the divorce lawyer will provide them to you. Not knowing what is going on with your case can be very worrisome, and the last thing you need at this point is something else to worry about.
It’s important for you to get the court orders or correspondences between yours and your spouse’s attorney. You need a transparent lawyer that will let you have copies of all documents and tell you everything that’s going on. Come to an understanding about the updates and how often you’ll get them.
No. 6: How Will You Communicate With Me?
Communication between you and your divorce attorney is vital. Talk to your attorney and understand how they will reach you, and better yet, how you can reach them whenever you need to. Ask what the most preferable medium of communication is and be sure that both of you are comfortable with it.
Comparing Attorneys for Divorces: How to Find the Best One
These are some of the top questions you should ask when comparing attorneys for divorces. There is so much more to it that should follow once you find the right attorney. However, the answers you get to these questions will help you make an informed decision.
If you have any more legal questions and need to understand more about your case, please check out our blog section. We have so much more valuable information right here to assist you during this trying time.
Comments 1
You made a good point that determining the mode of communication is also important when planning to hire a family law practitioner. I’d like to look for one soon because I’m interested in getting a consultation about divorce mediation. I’d like to be sure that it’s also legally sound to file for a divorce given my current situation with my spouse.