how do you find a divorce lawyer

What to look for in a good divorce attorney?

Dec 22, 2017 · Often times, you can get a sense of what a lawyer is like from your first phone call to their practice. Many lawyers will do an initial consultation for free but some will require a fee so be sure to ask before setting up a meeting. Query people in your circle who have used a divorce lawyer and ask if they would recommend theirs.

How do I find a good divorce attorney?

How To Find A New Divorce Lawyer. Deciding to divorce your significant other is surely not an easy decision to make. Unfortunately, you have a few serious things to determine during this hard time. The one decision we want to help you make easier …

How to know if a divorce lawyer is good?

May 11, 2020 · It is a good way to check on an attorney to make sure there aren’t any red flags. You can look on the internet to find contact information for your local bar association and court website. Law schools have different legal practice clinics. You should check your local law schools to identify if they have a family clinic.

How to choose the best divorce lawyer?

Nolo's online directory allows you to look for attorneys by practice area and provides a detailed profile with each attorney's experience, philosophy, and expertise. Your local state bar is another resource for finding an attorney trained to handle divorces.

What Do Divorce Lawyers Do?

A family lawyer is a legal practitioner who has expertise in any matters concerning the family unit and can provide counsel on things such as annulment, separation, divorce, child custody arrangements, economic support, and property division.

How Do I Find a Divorce Attorney?

Deciding to file for divorce can be a heavy decision fraught with emotion. It is important that you take a step back and begin your search for an attorney with some guidelines in mind. No one should simply pick up the phone book and pick the first attorney they find.

How Do I Know If I Need a Divorce Attorney?

A divorce is one of those legal operations that individuals have successfully filed for on their own, especially when the parties are amicable and there is very little property involved. The parties can also choose to mediate their divorce.

What Type of Attorney do I Need?

When you're getting a divorce, you'll need an attorney who is experienced in family law matters. A old college friend who now practices medical malpractice law isn't likely to be the best choice to handle your divorce. Different areas of the law have different rules and requirements. Attorneys in each practice area have different skill sets.

Can My Spouse and I Share an Attorney?

The short answer is "no." The professional rules of conduct governing lawyers prohibit attorneys from representing both spouses in a divorce. This would create a conflict of interest for the attorney, since your interests, rights, and needs in a divorce are adverse to your spouse's.

How Do I Know If an Attorney Is the Right fit?

You should interview any prospective attorney just as you would someone who was applying to work for you. You need to like your attorney. It's also important that you have confidence in your lawyer's abilities and respond well to communication style.

What Resources Are Available?

If you're unsure where to begin your search, you can start by reviewing Nolo's Lawyer Directory. Nolo's online directory allows you to look for attorneys by practice area and provides a detailed profile with each attorney's experience, philosophy, and expertise.

Who is Jessica Hoffmann?

Jessica Hoffmann is the Founder and CEO of FamilyDocket, a software application that helps family law attorneys and their clients automatically track and aggregate text messages, maintain expense reimbursement requests, and securely store and access documents.

Is it easy to find a divorce lawyer?

It’s not an easy process to find a divorce attorney. The decision on who represents you is one of the first and most impactful decisions you will make in this process. Don’t take it lightly. Your case could span several years and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Be sure you feel comfortable with your legal team.

The misconception about divorce lawyers

Many people entering a divorce are under the false assumption that their divorce lawyer is the leader in dissolving their marriage. In reality, you must be the head manager of your divorce, while your lawyer is a key member of your support team.

Accept that you do need a lawyer

Friends and family may urge you to go right to court, but sometimes a divorce doesn’t ever require a trip to the courtroom. Mediation and arbitration are sometimes easier and less expensive ways to end your marriage.

Know what you need before searching

There are many factors to consider when choosing a lawyer to represent you in your divorce.

Look in the right places

Referrals from friends, family, or colleagues can be a good way to start generating a list of potential attorneys. You can also contact your local Bar Association of the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers ( aaml.org) to research possibilities. Do not use an attorney with any connections to your spouse.

Ask the right questions

It is critical to be prepared when you start interviewing lawyers. You want to be able to accurately and clearly state your needs and the details of your situation. Many lawyers offer a free initial consultation, but make sure you clarify this up front, as some attorneys do bill for this first meeting.

Choose based on qualifications

Remember, you want to choose a lawyer who is qualified, who will give you the attention you need, who fits into your budget, and with whom you feel a good level of understanding and trust.

What can an experienced divorce attorney tell you?

An experienced divorce attorney will be able to tell you how likely it is you'll get what you're seeking in the divorce. An attorney can also help you devise a strategy for your case and give a rough timeline of how long it will take.

How to hire a lawyer for a divorce?

Don't just hire the first attorney you meet as they will be the one to represent you in the eyes of the law. Schedule a consultation with at least 3 lawyers (many offer free consultations) to learn more. Look for the following when you talk to them: 1 Local. You need an attorney who's familiar with the courts and family law judges in your county to strategize appropriately. 2 Communicates well. One of the biggest complaints about lawyers is their unresponsiveness to calls or emails. Make sure your attorney will be an attentive one. 3 Realistic. You should have a good idea of what your divorce will cost you, and the settlement you'll likely receive, before you leave the attorney's office. 4 Experienced. You’ll want a seasoned attorney who primarily practices family law. 5 Professional referrals and customer testimonials. If you’ve worked with other lawyers in the past, ask them to recommend a divorce attorney. Likewise, talk to the attorney’s past clients about their experience. You can easily find reviews of lawyers online, or ask the lawyer for a list of clients you can contact.

What can a divorce lawyer do for you?

What a Divorce lawyer can do for you. Hiring an experienced divorce attorney is the best way you get peace of mind when dealing with child custody, alimony, and asset division. Having a divorce lawyer advise you helps ensure that nothing is left out of your divorce agreement, which means that costly mistakes won't come back to bite you later.

How much does it cost to hire a divorce attorney?

Hiring a divorce attorney can cost anywhere from $250 to $350 per hour which may add up to a lot of money. However, attorneys may also handle divorces for a flat fee. The fee for an uncontested divorce might range from a $600 flat fee to a $5,000 retainer, depending on circumstances.

What is contested divorce?

A contested divorce occurs when couples can't agree out of court on one or more of these issues. That means you'll have to go to court to resolve them. And a court battle is a high-stakes process that can be difficult to take on without a lawyer's help.

What happens if you don't agree to custody?

You're dealing with custody disputes: If you and your spouse can't agree on a custody arrangement, you'll need to prove that your proposal is in the best interest of your children at the end of your marriage.

What are the complaints about divorce lawyers?

One of the biggest complaints about lawyers is their unresponsiveness to calls or emails. Make sure your attorney will be an attentive one. Realistic. You should have a good idea of what your divorce will cost you, and the settlement you'll likely receive, before you leave the attorney's office. Experienced.