how to choose a divorce lawyer

What to look for in a good divorce lawyer?

Aug 05, 2020 · Another important distinction to look for when choosing a lawyer is whether or not they are Board Certified in Marital & Family Law, which is the highest accreditation possible for divorce attorneys. 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.

How do I find a good divorce lawyer?

May 25, 2021 · You should look for a divorce attorney who has at least three-to-five years of experience doing family law and who spends at least 50% of his or her time doing divorce work. 6 Look for specialization within divorce law. Another easy step to narrow your list is by specialization within the umbrella of divorce law.

How to find the best divorce lawyer?

How to know if a divorce lawyer is good?

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 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.

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 purpose of divorce?

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.

Who is Laura Miolla?

Laura Miolla is a Separation and Divorce Coach who helps people find clarity, empowerment and confidence in the difficult divorce process. Use coaching to make better decisions in your divorce, achieve better outcomes, and lower the cost.

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 to do when your attorney is meeting with you?

If they are meeting with you, they also are likely ready, willing, and able to tackle your family law case. If that is the case, have a conversation about the retainer that your attorney will require upfront. Having an up-front conversation with your lawyer about money will be helpful over the course of the case.

How does conflict affect divorce?

The amount of conflict in the divorce process will have a huge impact on how your divorce plays out. Divorce cases that have high conflict couples may end up taking years to be fully decided, and you will likely need to go to court to get a final decision.

What happens if you don't think about your budget?

If you do not think about your budget ahead of time, you may end up spending quite a bit more than you anticipated. Some individuals make the mistake of assuming that they cannot afford a lawyer at all, and they do not look into the possibility of hiring someone.

What to do if you think someone is not experienced?

If you get the impression that someone is not as experienced as you thought or does not seem to be someone you want to work with, move on to the next lawyer.

Is a collaborative divorce more cost effective than a high conflict divorce?

Collaborative divorce. Uncontested divorce. All of these options are often faster and more cost-effective compared to a high conflict divorce. If you have a prenuptial agreement, then your divorce may look even less centered on conflict than someone who does not have this advantage.

Do you need a lawyer for divorce?

Choosing the right lawyer for your divorce can feel a bit overwhelming. There are lots of attorneys, but they are definitely not all the same. Some do not practice family law at all, so you certainly do not want someone inexperienced to help with your case. Others may be too aggressive or not aggressive enough for what you need.

Can a lawyer help you understand your emotions?

Only you and your spouse can make this type of choice. Some lawyers are better at helping you understand the emotions behind your decision-making than others. If that is important to you, be sure to ask questions about how that lawyer handles emotions as part of the initial interview process.

Why Choosing the Right Divorce Lawyer Matters

Every attorney has his or her own ideas, beliefs, philosophies, and ways of doing business. Every lawyer has his or her own approach to divorce. Most importantly, every lawyer is good at some things, and not so good at others.

How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer

Most people start their divorce by hiring a lawyer. THEN they get divorced using whatever divorce process the lawyer signs them up for.

Bonus Tip: If you screw up, cut your losses quickly

No matter how much research you do, or how carefully you try to choose an attorney, you can still make a mistake. It actually happens more often than you might think.

How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer Who Will Be Right For You

Your divorce lawyer is going to be your “navigator” in the divorce process. S/he will be the one who advises you, guides you, and gets you through the court system. No matter which divorce lawyer you choose, getting divorced still won’t be painless, and it likely won’t be easy.

Expert Q&A

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Tips

Even though you hired an attorney, you can fire him or her at any time and for any reason. Consider firing your attorney for doing any of the following:

Warnings

This article offers legal information, but it is not intended as legal advice.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 128,883 times.