how should i identify a good divorce lawyer

^{How To Find A Good Divorce Lawyers for Men}

• Be careful about advertisements. Remember that advertisements are meant specifically to attract your business. Although an advertisement can mean a lawyer is good, don’t just rely on the advertisement alone.
• Go with someone who specializes in divorce law. Too often, divorce lawyers for men will say that they specialize in divorce when they really don’t. ...
• Go with someone local. Sometimes, you’ll see advertisements for divorce lawyers for men where the ads are national, not local.
• Hire someone who has the same approach as you do. Even a very good lawyer may clash with you simply because you don’t see eye to eye. ...
Hire someone who has extensive courtroom experience. Even if you expect your divorce to be amicable, such that court proceedings will be perfunctory and basic, it’s a good idea to ...
Other considerations. When it comes to divorce lawyers for men, financial and custody issues are often integrally intertwined with the divorce itself.

Full Answer

How do I know if my divorce lawyer is good?

 · How to Find a Good Divorce Lawyer. 1. Understand your lawyer’s role. The goal of using a lawyer to help in your divorce process is to move the dissolution of your marriage forward in a ... 2. The importance of research. 3. Take time to interview your choices.

Can anyone recommend a good divorce lawyer?

 · How to Select the Right Divorce Attorney: 6 Tips From a Lawyer Tips To Find The Right Divorce Attorney For Yourself. Below you will discover six essential tips for hiring a divorce... Figure Out What Type of Divorce You Want First. Not all divorces are identical. There are many different reasons ...

What to look for in a good divorce attorney?

 · 10 Tips For How To Choose A Divorce Lawyer 1. Decide what divorce process you want to use. This is the FIRST decision you need to make! You have to decide whether... 2. Decide what kind of legal service that you need. While everyone who is going through a divorce needs legal advice (at... 3. Figure ...

What are the best questions to ask a divorce lawyer?

 · Look closely at the fee agreement with your attorney; it should contain specific information on how costs will be handled. And when you’re looking for a good divorce lawyer, costs and fees should be part of what you discuss in …

What to ask for during a divorce?

5 Things To Make Sure Are Included In Your Divorce SettlementA detailed parenting-time schedule—including holidays! ... Specifics about support. ... Life insurance. ... Retirement accounts and how they will be divided. ... A plan for the sale of the house.

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in South Africa?

South African Divorce Lawyers charge hourly rates of between R800 and R4000 per hour. Unopposed divorces are often charged at fixed prices which varies between R10 000 and R20 000. Divorce Lawyers are not allowed to work on divorce matters on a contingency fee basis.

What is the lawyer fee for a divorce in India?

The court fee is nominal at Rs 15, but the bulk is taken up by lawyer's fees. While women can avail of free legal services by getting an advocate from the legal aid cell, private lawyers' fee can vary from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on the type of divorce and duration involved.

How do I find a good divorce solicitor UK?

You can speak to friends, family and colleagues to find out if any of them have had a particularly positive experience with a solicitor or law firm. A good lawyer will have an excellent reputation, and by speaking to people who have experienced family law in action you may find the right firm for you.

How long does it take for a divorce to be finalized in South Africa?

4 weeksThe uncontested divorce is the best and most cost effective for all parties concerned. It can be finalised within 4 weeks. If a divorce is contested it may take between 2 - 3 years, but most contested divorces do settle long before they go on trial.

Who pays for divorce in South Africa?

The court will issue an order confirming who pays what. If the two parties can't agree on payments, then the court will rule on their behalf. How property and other assets will be divided. Generally, assets and debts are shared when you get divorced, unless a premarital contract was agreed.

What can a wife claim in a divorce?

Assets that you have built up or acquired during the period of marriage are known as matrimonial assets or marital assets. These typically include property, pensions, savings, personal belongings, and cash in the bank.

What are the 3 grounds for divorce?

The following are the grounds of divorce mentioned under the Indian Divorce Act, 1869. Adultery. Conversion to another religion. One of the couples suffering from an unsound mind, leprosy or communicable venereal disease for at least two years before the filing of the divorce.More items...•

Can wife ask for property after divorce?

Unless the court has legally declared a couple as 'divorced', the wife is considered to be the husband's legal spouse. As a result, till the time the divorce is officialised the wife has the right to her husband's property and so do their children.

How do I choose a solicitor for divorce?

Here are my tips for what to look for when choosing a divorce lawyer:Choose a specialist. A solicitor who mixes divorce in with other types of work may not have the same level of expertise as one who only deals with family law. ... Find someone who is good in and out of Court. ... Experience. ... Meet them.

How much is a UK divorce?

There's a £593 fee to apply for a divorce. The way you pay depends on how you apply. Your fee will not be refunded after you are sent the notice that your divorce application has been issued.

Should I use a solicitor for divorce?

Do I need a solicitor for a divorce? Getting divorce solicitors for your divorce case is usually a good way to go forward as they know all the intricacies involved in a divorce case. However, if the divorce is happening with the consent of both parties, you may apply for a divorce without solicitor to save lawyer fees.

How to find a divorce lawyer?

Ask them about what type of client they typically represent. Ask them about their rates. Most divorce lawyers charge an hourly fee and require a retainer -- a fee charged in advance. Some lawyers will also negotiate fees based on anticipated settlements. Don't waste your time (or theirs) on a meeting if they're out of your cost range. Most divorce attorneys provide a free consult to discuss your specific situation and what their legal approach would be. So take advantage of it to gather as much legal advice as possible! Typically, the attorney you meet with will not be handling the day-to-day issues related to your case, so ask to meet the colleague or associate that would. The divorce process can also include financial experts, parenting coordinators, coach facilitators, and forensic appraisers. Find out your attorney's access to these resources and if any would be relevant to your case, as it will affect overall cost. And even if you have no intention of heading to trial, look at the attorney's trial record and history of success in court. This track record is an indicator of your attorney's success in negotiation.

What to do before you rush out to hire a divorce attorney?

Before you rush out to hire a divorce attorney, consider other alternatives to traditional litigation. If you aren't completely entangled with children and finances, you could hire a mediator to help you negotiate the terms of your divorce.

What is collaborative divorce?

A collaborative divorce is focused on negotiation with the goal of preserving a co-parenting relationship. Your last resort is a litigated trial. Typically, these are the cases when neither side will compromise. So you need to determine what type of divorce attorney you need based on your unique circumstances.

What is the cheapest way to get divorced?

Mediation is the fastest, cheapest way to get divorced, and you might not need to hire an attorney at all! If your negotiation is more complicated, you'll have to hire a divorce lawyer to negotiate a settlement with your spouse's attorney. Or you could consider a collaborative divorce.

How to get divorced legally?

1. Be realistic. First, you need to realize that divorce is a legal process with the sole purpose of dissolving your assets and resolving custody issues. Your divorce attorney's job is to represent you to the best of his or her ability in this process.

Do attorneys tell you what you want to hear?

Unfortunately, many attorneys will tell you what you want to hear just to close the deal. While this is your life, it's a business for them. There are no guarantees in this process, so if an attorney is making promises, don't believe it.

What are the different ways to go about divorce?

Possible ways to go about the divorce process include arbitration, mediation, litigation, collaborative divorce, summary divorce, contested divorce, and others. Spend time researching these methods and select the path that you think will work best for you.

How to narrow your search for divorce lawyers?

While the number of attorneys you will encounter after a simple Google search can feel overwhelming, you can narrow your search by adding the search query to the divorce process you are seeking (arbitration, mediation, etc.). This will ensure that the lawyers who appear in your search results will specialize in the type of divorce you want.

What is the marriage.com course?

If you feel disconnected or frustrated about the state of your marriage but want to avoid separation and/or divorce, the marriage.com course meant for married couples is an excellent resource to help you overcome the most challenging aspects of being married.

What is a board certified divorce attorney?

Board Certified marital law attorneys have an additional legal education and training specific to legal separation and divorce law, and will be of particular use for your divorce. Going through a divorce is a painful event, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Compassion, hard-working, experienced are some of the qualities ...

What to bring to an interview for a lawyer?

Be sure to remember to bring a pen and paper with you when performing your interviews. Penning down notes will help you remember what the lawyers said when you are making your decision later.

Why do you have to have an interview with an attorney?

Having an actual interview with the attorney can help solidify your mind if they are the right type of person with the right expertise for your case. To ensure that you get all the information you need to make an informed choice, create a list of questions beforehand, and ensure to go over each question in full depth.

Why is it important to hire a divorce attorney?

Hiring a divorce attorney is often one of the first steps any person seeking a divorce will perform, and it is easily the most important, as their guiding hand can help make every subsequent step that much easier. Once you have planned to acquire an attorney’s services, your first big decision is which attorney to choose and why.

How to find a divorce attorney?

Looking in your local yellow pages. Check your yellow pages under “attorney” then searching for ads that list divorce or family law as an area in which the attorney (s) practices.

How to know if an attorney is the best fit for my case?

Consider whether or not the attorney answered your questions the way you had hoped or expected. If the attorney’s answers were way off from what you thought they should be, then that is a good sign that this attorney may not be the best fit for your case.

Why do attorneys withdraw from cases?

It is also important to remember that in certain situations, your attorney may withdraw from your case. An attorney may withdraw due to conflicts of interest; client consent; differing case strategies; a client’s unethical, fraudulent or criminal activities (in these situations an attorney may be required to withdraw from your case); personality conflicts; failure to pay fees; or a client’s failure to cooperate.

Why is it important to have a good relationship with your attorney?

It is important to have a good relationship with your attorney so that you feel comfortable enough to trust them with personal information for your case. If you just don’t like the person, that is a good sign that you should not hire that person as your attorney.

How to handle a conversation with an attorney?

Keep control of the conversation. Some attorneys may attempt to take over the conversation and steer it where they want it to go. If you are comfortable with that, it is fine. If not, try to redirect the conversation to the topics that you want to discuss.

How to get a sense of how an attorney would proceed with your case?

Prepare to ask questions related to your specific situation. To get a sense of how an attorney would proceed with your case, make sure to ask some pointed questions during your consultation . Some questions you should ask include:

How to narrow your list of attorneys?

Review each attorney’s website. You can narrow your list further by thoroughly reviewing the website of each attorney on your list. Some things that you want to look for include:

How to get a divorce attorney reference?

Ask others for a divorce attorney reference. Talk to friends and family members who have already been through a divorce about their experiences with their attorneys. Most people who have gone through a divorce won’t shy away from relating their stories, and some may even be willing to openly discuss the consultation fee they paid as well as their divorce attorney’s hourly rate.

How to prepare for divorce?

2. Prepare for your divorce attorney appointment. Before meeting or having a phone consultation with the attorneys on your list, you should prepare for the appointments. Remember that you are interviewing the attorney for a job, and treat your meeting like a job interview, wherein you are the employer.

What happens if you have a mediating attorney?

If dealing with a mediating attorney, understand that should the negotiations between you and your spouse break down, the attorney will most likely excuse himself or herself from the case. You will then both have to start over with new attorneys.

Do divorce lawyers charge by the hour?

On the other hand, if you think that your divorce will be contentious, or if you and your spouse have lots of property that must be split up, your lawyer may want to charge you by the hour.

Can you negotiate a flat fee for divorce?

Usually, if the divorce is not complicated and will not be contested, you can negotiate a flat fee arrangement with your attorney. A flat fee is where you pay the attorney an agreed upon price for the whole divorce, regardless of the actual number of hours the attorney spends.

What to do if an attorney makes you uncomfortable?

If the attorney makes you uncomfortable in any way or seems dismissive of your case or your situation, you should choose someone different to represent you.

Can an attorney answer questions about domestic relations?

Also ask any questions related to your specific situation. The attorney should not have any problem answering any questions you may have , and should not sound hesitant or unsure. However, if your particular issue is complicated or extremely rare, it is possible that some attorneys may have to research the specifics of domestic relations law in your state and how they would apply to your case.

Who to get divorce lawyer name?

If you know someone who has been through a divorce in the past few years, and was satisfied with their divorce lawyer, get that lawyer's name.

Why is the internet important for divorce?

The internet is best used for gathering information and validating referrals. If someone gives you the name of a divorce lawyer whose website looks like it hasn't been updated since Al Gore invented the internet (or worse, who doesn't have a website at all!), that is NOT a good sign.

Why are lawyers banned from rating websites?

Another complicating factor is that, due to ethical restrictions, lawyers in some states are prohibited from participating in legal rating websites. Finally, you need to remember that people going through a divorce are not happy. Sometimes, even if a lawyer does an outstanding job for them, those people complain.

Is a lawyer rating agency infallible?

Take lawyer ratings with a grain of salt. Lawyer rating agencies are not infallible. A lawyer who chooses not to advertise, or participate in a particular rating site's program, may end up being rated poorly, even though s/he may be an amazing lawyer.

Can you forget what you asked in an attorney's office?

Both of those factors make it more likely that, once you are in an attorney's office, you will forget what you wanted to ask... and you won't remember until after you are back home.

What do you do when your spouse is a lawyer?

communicating with your spouse’s attorney (or directly with your self-represented spouse) and anyone else involved in the case. reviewing documents and performing research. discovery (such as requesting documents or other information and conducting depositions) drafting settlement agreements.

How much does a divorce attorney charge?

Each spouse's average bill for attorneys’ fees in divorce was $11,300, although more than four in ten readers paid $5,000 or less.

Why do some divorced couples have higher costs than others?

Why do some divorcing couples have higher costs than others? When there are difficult disputes to resolve in a case , the fees can get very expensive for experts like custody evaluators and forensic accountants (to trace, value, or divide assets). In our survey, readers paid an average of $1,600 in non-attorney costs when they had at least one contested issue but managed to settle their disagreements; that average jumped to $2,750 for those who went to trial on at least one issue.

What are the costs of divorce?

In our survey, the average for all of these costs was $1,580 for each spouse's share. However, that average was pushed up by the relatively small proportion of readers (10%) who had very high costs ($5,000 or more, in addition to their attorneys’ fees). The median amount of non-attorney costs was $500.

Can a divorce judge order a spouse to pay for attorney fees?

Sharing Legal Fees in Divorces. In most states, family law judges may order one spouse to pay for part of the other spouse’s attorneys’ fees, especially when there’s a big difference in their incomes and one spouse needs the help in order to have an equal playing field.

Do lawyers pay fees in advance?

Nearly all readers who hired lawyers paid at least some fees in advance.

How long does it take for an attorney to bill you?

Attorneys generally bill you (usually increments of six to 15 minutes ) for everything they do in connection with your case, including: every communication you have with them (whether by phone, text, or email), from quick status phone calls to dealing with your email about who gets the Instapot.

Is an advertisement for a divorce lawyer good?

Although an advertisement can mean a lawyer is good, don’t just rely on the advertisement alone. Check divorce lawyers for men reputations online, and/or check with friends or relatives who have used a particular lawyer’s services.

Do divorce lawyers specialize in divorce?

Too often, divorce lawyers for men will say that they specialize in divorce when they really don’t. Lawyers can say they specialize in something even if they practice in more than one area, so be careful. Check your lawyer’s credentials, background and references before you decide to hire him or her. The lawyer you choose should have had experience in or be working with a firm that specializes in family law, with your lawyer’s specialty specifically in divorce.

Do divorce lawyers need to be licensed?

This isn’t just for reasons of convenience, but also because your lawyer is going to need to be versed in divorce laws for your state. Divorce laws do change on a state-by-state basis; your lawyer will need to be licensed in your state, to be sure, but will also need experience practicing in that state. If your lawyer has just moved from another state and has now set up shop in your state, he or she may not be very experienced in your state’s divorce laws, even if experienced in general.

How to communicate with a divorce lawyer?

Clear and easy communication with your divorce lawyer is critical. During your case, you will need to be able to effectively communicate your concerns and expectations to your lawyer, and your attorney will need to be able to clearly explain things to you regarding your case and provide you with realistic expectations. If an attorney doesn’t listen to you well or can’t explain things in a way you can understand, you should continue your search.

How long does a divorce lawyer represent you?

The lawyer you hire will be representing you for several months, or even a year or more, which means finding the right lawyer can make the divorce process a lot easier on you and your family.

How to maintain composure in divorce?

Your attorney's ability to maintain composure is not just about staying calm and focused with you, but also about exhibiting self-control before the court or with your spouse's attorney, even if frustrated. You should look for a divorce lawyer who will represent your interests strongly, but who will not take it personally when things do not turn out exactly as your attorney intended.

Why is it important to have an attorney in court?

This is important because you will need your attorney to represent your interests clearly and to be trusted by the court.

Why is it important to communicate with your spouse's attorney?

While it may seem counter-intuitive, your attorney's ability to communicate with your spouse and your spouse's attorney is also essential, because good communication between the attorneys can facilitate fruitful negotiation and keep costs down. A good divorce lawyer will try to negotiate resolution of some of the issues that are important to you before heading straight to court. (Of course, the ability to communicate well with your spouse and his/her attorney does require some cooperation on their part as well.)

Is an attorney always available?

It is unlikely that you will be your attorney's only client, and because your attorney is human, your attorney will not always be immediately available to you when you have a question. You should look for an attorney who has support staff and other attorneys available to assist in the event of an emergency. It is also important that your attorney have support and resources available to prepare your case in a timely manner, such as experienced paralegals, support attorneys, and legal assistants.

What to discuss with a lawyer about divorce?

There are a number of important issues you will need to discuss with your attorney during the first meeting, including child custody, child support, spousal support, division of the marital estate, any separate property claims, community debts, and your expectations about the likely outcome of the case.

Why is it important to share all relevant facts with your divorce attorney?

It’s important to share all relevant facts with your divorce attorney so he or she can prepare for and deal with potential problems. Even if you think a particular fact is irrelevant to your divorce, make certain to mention it to your attorney so he or she can decide whether the item could create a problem down the road.

How to reconcile a marriage?

Making a marriage work can be challenging, especially when one spouse is considering divorce. It takes time and effort to rebuilt a relationship, but if both spouses are committed to making the marriage work, reconciliation is possible. 1.

Why is it important to go to court for divorce?

Going to court encourages fighting, the stress of litigation makes it more likely you will become emotional, and the lawyers will control the divorce because court rules and procedures are complex.

What is collaborative divorce?

A collaborative divorce is a cooperative process where an experienced team guides you through your divorce with minimal stress and expense. Litigation is an adversarial approach to divorce and involves going to court, presenting evidence, ...

Why do lawyers use investigators?

Some attorney use investigators to search for damaging facts, and if there is a suspicion of an affair , an investigator is likely to be involved. If you are in an abusive relationship, make certain you tell your lawyer, even if you are ashamed of it. Also, if you have contracted a sexually transmitted disease or have hidden assets or debts, ...

What happens during discovery in a divorce?

During the discovery process, if you opt for a litigated divorce , these facts are likely to come up and in a collaborative divorce, you are obligated to share all relevant information with the other side. Some attorney use investigators to search for damaging facts, and if there is a suspicion of an affair, an investigator is likely to be involved. ...