how to choose a lawyer for divorce

How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer

1. Assess your Needs Every divorce lawyer has strengths in different areas. ...
2. Do your Research Understanding the advice you are provided with is essential and key. ...
3. Initial consultation

Full Answer

What to look for in a good divorce lawyer?

You need someone who can take the following actions on your behalf:

• Review the circumstances surrounding your divorce and how state laws are likely to apply;
• File the appropriate legal documents with the court and respond to any pleadings you receive from your spouse;
• Appear by your side at divorce-related hearings, making effective legal arguments on your behalf;

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How do I find a good divorce lawyer?

Method 3 Method 3 of 3: Choosing an Attorney

1. Make appointments with prospective divorce attorneys. Don’t just choose the first attorney you find.
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.
3. Gather all the information and documents you were asked to bring to your consultation. ...

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How to find the best divorce lawyer?

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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 fair and ...
2. The importance of research While your goal here is not to become an authority on the ins and outs of divorce (after all, that is what you are hiring ...
3. Take time to interview your choices

How to know if a divorce lawyer is good?

• Does your attorney explain the divorce process to you?
• Does your attorney meet procedural timelines?
• Is your attorney prepared?
• Does your attorney communicate with you?
• Who's the decision maker for important issues?

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 do you play dirty in a divorce?

Top 10 Dirtiest Divorce TricksServing Papers with the Intent to Embarrass. You're angry with your spouse, and you want to humiliate him or her. ... Taking Everything. ... Canceling Credit Cards. ... Clearing Our Your Bank Accounts. ... Starving Out the Other Spouse. ... Refusing to Cooperate. ... Jeopardizing Employment. ... Meddling in an Affair.More items...•

How do narcissists deal with divorce?

In a narcissist's mind, they do not fail; they do not make mistakes. Therefore, your spouse will place the blame for the divorce squarely on your shoulders. A narcissist will use whatever resources they can to protect their self-inflated ego.

How do you fight a narcissist in a divorce?

Divorcing a NarcissistDon't Even THINK That Your Divorce Will Be Amicable. ... Get a Strong, but Reasonable, Divorce Lawyer. ... Get a Therapist. ... Assemble Your Support Team BEFORE You Divorce. ... Get EVERYTHING in Writing! ... Stay Out of Court as Much as You Can. ... Find Ways Your Narcissistic Spouse Can “Win” ... Pick Your Battles Wisely.More items...

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 go bankrupt if you are living paycheck to paycheck?

If you are living paycheck to paycheck, have no equity in your home, and nothing in your savings account, getting an expensive, high-powered divorce lawyer just might make you end up in bankruptcy court!

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 narrow your divorce list?

Look for specialization within divorce law. Another easy step to narrow your list is by specialization within the umbrella of divorce law. Many state bar associations have certified specialists in family law. If you find an attorney who appears to have a specialization, only consider the attorney if you fall within the category that the lawyer usually handles.

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 file for divorce after assets are divided?

Consider using an experienced mediator instead. The mediator will work with you and your spouse to come up with a division of assets agreeable to both parties. After the assets have been divided, you and your spouse can file for divorce on your own.

What is a flat fee for divorce?

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.

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.

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:

Your Family or Local Lawyer

If you know an attorney or someone in your family has utilized a local attorney, it is often a good first step to schedule an appointment to review your legal matter with a local attorney. At that meeting, you should be prepared to verbalize and articulate your legal needs.

Yellow Pages

Your local Yellow Pages or Yellow Book will have listings of all of the attorneys in your area. Those listings will also include the areas of concentration, specialization, or board certification. It is often difficult to choose one attorney over another.

Certified Attorneys

A Certified Attorney is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. A New Jersey Attorney who is Certified by the Supreme Court has demonstrated proficiency in specialized fields of law. A certification helps lawyers by giving them a way to make their experience known to the public and to other lawyers.

County Law Referral Services

Each county has a Lawyer Referral Service. Set forth below is a list of all the county Lawyer Referral Services and their phone numbers. They maintain lists of attorneys by areas of concentration. The costs of initial consultations are usually established by the service and are a nominal amount.

Legal Services

Each county maintains a Legal Services Office. Legal Services Attorneys may represent you at no cost if you meet their economic guidelines. The Legal Services phone numbers for each county are also set forth below.

Public Defender

The Public Defender’s office may represent you if you are indigent and have a criminal matter. If you are accused of a crime, the court at your first appearance, will advise you of your right to have a public defender represent you.

Internet

The Internet is also a good source of information about attorneys. If you conduct a search for the type of an attorney or type of legal issue, you will find an abundance of legal referral sources.

1. Do not choose the first divorce lawyer that you find

Take your time in looking for a divorce attorney. Allow yourself to have several options by making a list of lawyers you think can provide the kind of legal service you need. Do not immediately sign up with the first one that you find. Explore your options first.

2. Choose your lawyer according to the type of divorce process you need to use

Before finalizing your choice of a divorce attorney, you must first determine what type of divorce process suits your needs, goal, and situation. There are seven types that you can choose from:

3. Choose a divorce lawyer who respects and values the professional ethics of their industry

You may encounter smooth-talking lawyers who like to brag about their achievements. While there is nothing wrong with being proud of one’s successes, this should not be done in a manner that disrespects other lawyers you are considering or interviewing.

4. Consider your budget

Hiring a lawyer can cost you a lot of money. Most of them charge by the hour, but there are always exceptions to the rule. With that said, it is also vital to keep in mind that not all higher-rate attorneys provide quality legal services.

6. Choose local

Family law attorneys who practice in your state or area should be your priority. Working with a locally-based lawyer has a lot of advantages, foremost of which is familiarity with state or county divorce laws and with legal officials and judges.

What is divorce attorney?

Divorce attorneys (a subsection of Family Law) specialize in the entire divorce process from start to finish, help smooth over differences between disagreeing parties, and even offer a sympathetic ear to listen when you feel overwhelmed or upset.

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 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 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.

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.

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 couples split up?

There are many different reasons why couples decide to split up formally. Sometimes this decision is amicable. Other times, this decision creates great hostility. Sometimes, there are many assets, or even children, that need to be factored into the equation; sometimes there aren’t.

Schedule Free Case Evaluations With Multiple Divorce Lawyers

Begin your search by Googling divorce lawyers in your area. Then, find out if they offer free case evaluations or consultations.

Ask About Their Experience and Expertise

While talking with potential lawyers, find out more about their divorce case experience. How long have they been a licensed attorney? How long have they been handling divorce cases?

Read Client Reviews

Before you choose a divorce lawyer, it’s also a good idea to find out what their past clients have to say about their legal services. You can generally find client reviews and testimonials on their website or social media pages. Look for client reviews that revolve around cases similar to yours.

Assess Their Communication Skills

When looking at your options for lawyers, pay attention to how they communicate with you. It’s important to develop a positive rapport with your lawyer, as most divorces take several months to settle.

Ask About Pricing

Finally, consider your divorce lawyer budget. Hiring an attorney for filing a divorce won’t be cheap. However, some divorce lawyers are more affordable than others.

Are You Ready to Choose a Divorce Lawyer?

As you can see, you shouldn’t hire the first divorce attorney you find. Take your time to choose a divorce lawyer who will serve you well and fits within your budget. And remember to read their client reviews before making your choice.