what is a divorce lawyer

by Prof. Riley Mante 4 min read

Divorce Lawyer Job Description

  • Education and Licensing. Divorce attorneys need to graduate from law school, which requires a total commitment of seven years of post-secondary education.
  • Duties. Divorce attorneys work exclusively in civil law, representing only one party involved in divorce proceedings.
  • Skills. ...
  • Salary and Outlook. ...
  • 2016 Salary Information for Lawyers. ...

A divorce lawyer protects the rights of their client, along with handling the related custody and financial aspects of the divorce. Importantly, a divorce lawyer will also explain the law and your available legal options. The attorney should review your situation and its related documents.

Full Answer

What questions should you ask a divorce attorney?

Dec 15, 2021 · Divorce, or "dissolution of marriage," is the legal termination of the marital relationship. The divorce process is handled by family law attorneys (each estranged spouse retains his or her own counsel) and involves a number of issues, ranging from division of property to child custody.

What to look for in a good divorce lawyer?

What you should look for is a lawyer specializing in family law who knows the nuances in the law and the rules and judges in your local court. Don’t Share a Lawyer with Your Spouse Even if you came to a mutual agreement to get a divorce, hiring one lawyer for both of you is not feasible.

Is it worth getting a divorce lawyer?

What Is a Divorce Lawyer Retainer Fee? Lawyers often charge a retainer fee to handle your divorce case from the beginning. This fee is a down payment for the legal services your lawyer agrees to provide. A divorce lawyer retainer fee includes the following: The cost of legal services—It’s based on the lawyer’s regular hourly fee. Keep in mind that lawyers charge …

How to find a good divorce lawyer?

Attorney Sara Saba has specialized in all Divorce and Family law matters since 2004 and represents clients in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Ms. Saba is trained in the practice of mediation and collaborative law which allows parties to …

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What is called divorce lawyer?

Therefore, a divorce lawyer must delicately yet justly handle a wide variety of family law issues from divorce, marriage annulment, and legal separation to child custody, child support and visitation rights. They are also called divorce attorneys or family practice lawyers.

What do divorce lawyers need for their clients to know?

Do You Have Any Children From the Marriage? How Much Property (and Debt) Do You Currently Have with Your Spouse? Will You or Your Spouse Seek Alimony (Spousal Support)? What Should I Bring to a Meeting with a Divorce Lawyer?Oct 11, 2019

How much does a divorce cost?

The median cost of a divorce is $7,500. An uncontested divorce or one with no major contested issues costs, on average, $4,100. Disputes over child support, child custody, and alimony raise the average cost of a divorce significantly. Divorces that go to trial on two or more issues cost, on average, $23,300.Nov 16, 2020

How can a lawyer help with a divorce?

Here are some of the pivotal roles and tasks that divorce lawyers help their clients with.Explaining Grounds for Divorce. ... Providing Objective Advice. ... Accounting for Marital Assets. ... Explain Property Division. ... Devising a Debt Repayment Plan. ... Determining Spousal Support and Other Benefits. ... Helping with Custody Plans.More items...

Who handles divorce?

The divorce process is handled by family law attorneys (each estranged spouse retains his or her own counsel) and involves a number of issues, ranging from division of property to child custody. While it's important to hire a lawyer who is skilled at your economic and other interests in a divorce, it is crucial to find an attorney ...

What is divorce process?

But each divorce is unique and most involve disputes over things like child custody or division of property. Here are the main issues a divorce attorney deals with (see also, Checklist: Issues to Discuss with Your Divorce Attorney ):

What are the issues in divorce?

At its most basic, a divorce is a legal process by which two parties terminate their legal and financial relationship. But each divorce is unique and most involve disputes over things like child custody or division of property. Here are the main issues a divorce attorney deals with (see also, Checklist: Issues to Discuss with Your Divorce Attorney ): 1 Division of Property: All property acquired by either spouse after the marriage date is considered "marital property" and is subject to equitable division. See FindLaw's Guide to Divorce and Property Division (PDF) to learn more. 2 Alimony: Alimony, or spousal support, is monthly payment made by one spouse to another in accordance to either a settlement agreement or court order. Alimony is meant to correct for any unfair economic effects of a divorce. See FindLaw's Guide to Spousal Support (PDF) to learn more. 3 Child Support: Child support is a monthly payment made by the noncustodial parent to the custodial parent to be spent on the child's needs. See FindLaw's Guide to Getting Child Support (PDF) to learn more. 4 Child Custody: When a family splits up, the parents and the court must decide what is best for the minor children, including where they will live and how decisions are made. This is often the most difficult part of the divorce proceedings. See FindLaw's Guide to Child Custody (PDF) for more information.

What is alimony in divorce?

Alimony: Alimony, or spousal support, is monthly payment made by one spouse to another in accordance to either a settlement agreement or court order. Alimony is meant to correct for any unfair economic effects of a divorce. See FindLaw's Guide to Spousal Support (PDF) to learn more.

What is custody rights?

Custody: Having rights to your child. Custody can be either legal, which means that you have the right to make important decisions about your child's welfare, or physical, which means that the child lives with and is raised by you.

How to choose a divorce attorney?

There are several things to look for when choosing a divorce attorney. You want to choose someone who is experienced, respected, competent, and affordable. If they are proving to not be a good fit though, change them. Because you can, even if the reason is that you don't get on with him or her. Bear in mind however that if an attorney has worked on your case, you'll have to pay her/him for their time. Also, it might damage your case to change attorney's when you are close to a court ordered deadline, so only do it after careful consideration.

How much does a divorce cost?

Contested divorces cost anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000, though there are plenty of ways to limit the staunch the outward flow of cash before and during the process.

What is fault based divorce?

Fault-based divorce is when one spouse committed an act that gives legal justification to the ending of the marriage. These acts include adultery, a felony conviction, cruelty, or desertion.

What does it mean to be uncontested in divorce?

An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree child custody, spousal support, child support, visitation, and division of property. If you find that there is no need to fight over these things, you've already saved yourself thousands of dollars.

How to start a divorce?

One of the best and simplest ways to do that is to start a divorce file. In this file, keep every bit of paper that could have an effect on how your divorce proceedings. Gather copies of all important financial documents and access to all account information. Keep it organized and easy to navigate.

Is divorce law firm bigger than solo practice?

In any industry, the larger a company is, the bigger volume it's doing. Divorce law firms are no different, prompting many people to seek a solo practitioner who is more invested in the outcome of your case. Paradoxically, however, if the solo practitioner does not have adequate support staff in his or her office, your case may end up not getting the attention and care you were promised.

What is mediation in divorce?

Mediation is a process whereby you and your spouse sit down with a neutral third party to negotiate several important areas of divorce. It's a low-cost way to address practically any other disagreement you and your spouse may have. While the mediator's decision is not binding, it allows a neutral party to provide their perspective on how divorce related issues should be addressed. However, mediation can only be a useful tool if you and your spouse can come to an broad agreement.

Where is Jeff Cutler?

Jeff Cutler is a native Miamian, attending local public schools before graduating with honors from the University of Florida School of Business Admin... Read More#N#istration (BSBA, Finance) and receiving his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Florida School of Law in 1982. He was a Captain and four-year letterman for the University of Florida Wrestling Team. Mr. Cutler returned to Miami in 1982 to live and practice law following law school. Mr. Cutler’s areas of legal specialization include civil, corporate, and commercial law and litigation, including business and construction law, transactions and finance, personal injury, wrongful death, p ... View Profile

Who is Erin Morse?

The Law Office of Erin Morse is an exclusive Family Law and Divorce Law Firm. Founded by Attorney Erin Morse in Orlando, she and her competent staff ... Read More

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