what is a good way to find a divorce lawyer

by Alivia Carter 3 min read

When looking for a divorce lawyer, word-of-mouth referrals from friends, family, and other professionals are a useful place to start. Seeking out attorneys who specialize in areas such as custody or division of assets can also be beneficial.

Full Answer

What to look for in a good divorce attorney?

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 attorney?

You can get divorced in England or Wales if all of the following are true:

  • you’ve been married for over a year
  • your relationship has permanently broken down
  • your marriage is legally recognised in the UK (including same-sex marriage)
  • the UK is your permanent home, or the permanent home of your husband or wife

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?

How to choose the best divorce lawyer?

How to Select the Right Divorce Attorney: 6 Tips From a Lawyer

  • Tips To Find The Right Divorce Attorney For Yourself. ...
  • Figure Out What Type of Divorce You Want First. ...
  • Create a Budget. ...
  • Ask People You Know For Recommendations. ...
  • Search the World Wide Web. ...
  • Create a List of Interview Questions. ...
  • Search For An Experienced Lawyer with Board Certification. ...

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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 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...

Why does a narcissist drag out a divorce?

Knowing that you are able to move on without their influence can be unbearable for them. They crave your dependence and loyalty above all else. Without you, they will feel the need to act in an aggressive or jealous manner. This can make a simple divorce case quickly turn into a drawn out affair.

What Does a Divorce Lawyer Do?

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.

Do You Need a Divorce Lawyer?

Working through the legal process of divorce is often complex—characterized by significant paperwork, waiting periods, and filing multiple forms, among other requirements—adding hurdles to individuals who may wish to undergo a divorce without a lawyer.

Payment: What You Should Expect and How to Pay

The total average costs of a divorce can range from $7,000 to $28,000, with divorce attorneys charging an average of $270 an hour. In a 2019 study by Martindale-Nolo Research, attorney fees for divorces lasting less than six months clocked in, on average, at $6,500; those lasting more than 30 months came in at $23,000.

How to Find a Good Divorce Lawyer

As with many other services, finding a good divorce lawyer can start with referrals from friends or family. In addition, other professionals, such as accountants or financial advisors, may offer recommendations. Getting a deeper understanding of their experience with a lawyer can provide valuable information on what to look for—and what to avoid.

Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Situation

When you've identified possible candidates, interview your top choices. Some offer free consultations, but budget for a paid meeting if you think the attorney is worth it. You will learn something about how you want your divorce to proceed from each meeting.

The Bottom Line

The steep cost makes finding a divorce lawyer an option that is out of reach for many Americans. 7 Legal activists have suggested that the process of getting an uncontested divorce—which is when either spouse doesn't disagree with any aspect of the divorce—should be reformed, making it less arduous. 8

How Can I Afford a Divorce Lawyer?

Because the costs of getting a divorce can range between $7,000 and $28,000, many Americans question how it's possible to pay for it. 5 Withdrawal from a 401 (k) is a permissible option if the funds are spent on the divorce.

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.

What questions should I ask a lawyer?

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. Just a few examples of questions to ask include: 1 How long have you been in practice? 2 What type of divorces do you usually handle? 3 Who is your typical client? 4 Have you been a representative of cases that were similar to mine?

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 ...

How many attorneys should I schedule an interview with?

Create a List of Interview Questions. It is recommended that you schedule appointments (either phone or in-person) with at least 2-3 attorneys (after you have already narrowed down your search through personal recommendations and savvy internet research) before making your decision.

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 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.

Is divorce painful?

Deciding to divorce your spouse could be one of the most stressful and painful moments in a person’s life. The strong emotions that often accompany it can make going through the often complex divorce process feel like an insurmountable weight has been placed on your chest.

Role of the Divorce Lawyer

A good divorce lawyer should be able to fulfill several critical roles. He or she should help you understand the divorce process and narrow in on the particular issues at hand. While divorce is an emotional process and a divorce lawyer should handle it in a compassionate manner, he or she should help you concentrate on the particular legal issues.

Finding Prospects

Now that you know what to look for in a lawyer, you can begin the process of finding someone to potentially represent you. The first step in finding a good lawyer is to ask someone you trust for a recommendation. If you are close to the person making the recommendation, ask about his or her personal experience.

Interview

Once you have narrowed down your list of prospects, schedule an interview with the lawyer. Many do not charge for this initial meeting, but be sure that you check on this before meeting anyone so that you do get a surprise charge. Sometimes even if a lawyer is good and experienced, he or she may simply not be the right fit for you.

List of Questions

So that you make an efficient use of your time, you may wish to prepare a list of questions before you meet with potential lawyers. You may want to ask about the lawyer’s experience, including the areas of law that he or she primarily concentrates.

What does a divorce lawyer do?

Your divorce attorney is here to provide you with legal advice and help with paperwork. Lawyers do not offer counseling, make personal suggestions, or decide matters for you. Understanding what a divorce lawyer will and won’t do for you during the process is essential to getting the best performance.

What is the most important part of divorce?

This term usually refers to all things of value (property, bank accounts, and so on) that are not already split or given to someone as part of an existing contract.

How to choose a divorce attorney?

When choosing a divorce attorney, you want someone easy to work with, who knows the process and can maintain their professionalism in the courtroom. Therefore, take your time before hiring an attorney, and list at least three candidates based on their track record and professional backgrounds.

How many marriages end in divorce?

Once you have decided it is time to end your marriage, it’s time to start thinking about the next step for you and your family. With as much as 50% of marriages ending in divorce, the idea is hardly an unusual one.

Why do lawyers use blogs?

Blogs are a great source of information and are often used to help attorneys to improve search engine rankings and attract new traffic. For you, SEO helps you find a law firm that is credible, and offers targeted services based on their blog or website keywords, such as mediation or online consultations.

Can a divorce decree be changed?

Once signed, the divorce decree is difficult to change down the road. 2. Be Sure to Research the Firm, Partners, and any Associated Organizations. The last thing you want to happen is for you to be midway through your divorce and discover you need a new divorce attorney due to their lack of expertise or lack of response to your concerns.

Do divorce lawyers offer free consultations?

It is not uncommon for divorce lawyers to offer a free initial consultation. For them, it is a marketing and case assessment technique. For you, it is a great opening to find out more about potential attorneys. In this session, lawyers aim to outline your options without getting into too much detail. Quite often, it entails you outlining your case for a divorce to a lawyer and getting advice on how they would approach the case in terms of financial settlements or custody.

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4. How to Find a Good Divorce Attorney – wikiHow

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It is usually better to find an attorney in the district in which you live that has practiced before the judges that may be deciding your case. Typically, you (24) …

9. Six Tips for Finding the Right Divorce Lawyer

Feb 4, 2017 — 1. Do your research. · 2. Interview more than one divorce lawyer · 3. Watch out for false promises · 4. Look for impartial accreditations · 5. Find (27) …

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