who to ask about divorce lawyer

by Thalia Luettgen 7 min read

Ask the law firm what percentage of their cases they devote to divorce and whether they have attorneys specializing in family law. Also, find out the qualifications of their divorce attorneys and how long they’ve been practicing. An attorney who’s been exclusively handling divorce cases knows where potential loopholes are and how to avoid them.

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What are the best questions to ask a divorce lawyer?

Perhaps you are unsure what you have agreed to or want to know what you can claim during a divorce. Either way, asking a divorce attorney about this is going to help. Definition and Coverage; Namely, you can ask your divorce attorney what the prenuptial agreement means. They can go through the contract and advise you on what it says about divorce. It may be specific about …

What you should know before contacting a divorce attorney?

This is an important question for two reasons. First, it will test the divorce attorney's knowledge and experience of the divorce process and divorce law. Second, it will educate you on what specifically the attorney can and will do with you to help mitigate the costs. Do not settle for a generic answer.

What qualities make a good divorce attorney?

5. ( 3) Divorce is a crucial legal procedure that could impact your life moving forward. If you’re going through this process for the first time, you may feel uncomfortable. Regardless, you must seek legal representation before any divorce proceedings. Furthermore, you want to make sure that you’re getting the best divorce lawyer for your ...

What to look for in a good divorce attorney?

Sep 24, 2021 · You’re looking for a lawyer whose main area of practice is divorce law. This divorce lawyer has in-depth legal knowledge and will deliver superb services. Also, this attorney understands that clients are looking for more than legal services as they need emotional support.

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What questions should I ask when getting a divorce?

Ten Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney
  • Do you specialize in divorces, or are divorces just a part of your practice? ...
  • What is your strategy for my case? ...
  • How long do you take to return phone calls? ...
  • Will anyone else in your office be working on my case? ...
  • How will you charge me?

What a man should ask for in a divorce settlement?

5 more things to ask for in a divorce settlement agreement

Co-parenting plan. Relationship building. Documentation. Money.
Aug 16, 2019

What is a wife entitled to 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.

Is wife entitled to husband's pension after divorce?

A general rule of thumb when it comes to splitting pensions in divorce is that a spouse will receive half of what was earned during the marriage, though it depends on each state's laws governing this subject.Jan 12, 2022

Does it matter who files for divorce first?

If you have been served divorce papers already, then that answers the question for you. If you’re going to have an uncontested divorce, it doesn’t matter who files for divorce first. But if you’re going to have a contested divorce, it does matter. You want to have time to prepare for divorce.

What to do if you are unsure about a divorce?

splitting debts. If you’re unsure about whether you have a contested or uncontested divorce, ask your divorce lawyer. If there are small things that you can figure out on your own with your spouse, you should. Your attorney will be able to point out what things you need to negotiate with your spouse on.

What is the purpose of mediation in divorce?

Divorce mediations help couples reach an agreement on their disputes without going to trial. When you go through divorce mediation, you have the final say. When you go to trial, the judge has the final say on how to settle. If you need divorce mediation, ask your divorce lawyer for a divorce mediation checklist.

What happens when you go through divorce mediation?

When you go through divorce mediation, you have the final say. When you go to trial, the judge has the final say on how to settle. If you need divorce mediation, ask your divorce lawyer for a divorce mediation checklist. If they don’t have a printout to hand you, no big deal.

What happens if a divorce lawyer knows your spouse?

If your divorce lawyer knows your spouse, there could be a conflict of interest. Depending on their relationship, the divorce lawyer that you are questioning may not want to fight your spouse. If they just know OF your spouse, it’s probably not a big deal. If they are old colleagues, you may want to reconsider.

How much does a retainer cost for divorce?

A retainer fee usually covers half of the estimated total cost of divorce. Meaning, if your divorce lawyer thinks it will cost $10,000 to handle your divorce, the retainer fee might be $5,000. This is not a hard and fast rule, but just an example. The point is that your retainer fee is going to run out.

What can a divorce attorney do for you?

An experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorney will provide you with the tools to communicate better with your spouse. These tools include how to communicate with your spouse, when to communicate with your spouse and how to diffuse conflict.

Can a divorce attorney tell you what the results are?

No attorney can guarantee to you a particular result. However, experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorneys should be able to tell you what the typical and results are in cases similar to yours. The more factual disagreement there is between you and your spouse, the harder it is to estimate the potential outcome.

Do experienced divorce attorneys know the law?

Experienced divorce attorneys will not struggle to answer your questions. Experienced divorce attorneys should rarely not know the law. The better divorce attorneys even show you the law in our codes.

Can a divorce attorney answer alimony questions?

It will be more difficult for a divorce attorney to answer your questions about the ultimate alimony amount at the judgment phase. That is because the attorney would have to first conduct or have a proper expert conduct a marital standard of living analysis, which includes an analysis of Family Code 4320.

How to plan your life after a divorce?

If you want to plan your life after a divorce, you should at least have a general idea of how long divorces similar to yours take. This planning will also help you prepare a budget for the cost of divorce. The attorney should truthfully tell you there is no way to predict exactly how long a divorce will take.

Why do you use "likely" in divorce?

I use the word "likely" because there are facts you may not know and which may surprise you during the divorce.

How often do attorneys communicate?

The more complex the case, the more the communication will likely take place. A typical case has communication between one to four times per month.

1- Do you know my partner in any way?

The last thing you want happening is your lawyer not performing to their bests due to emotional attachments with your spouse.

2- How many divorce cases were you able to settle without court proceedings?

Taking divorce cases to court only prolongs it unnecessarily. Most times, the only effect of taking a divorce to court is elevated fees.

3- How many divorce cases have you handled?

The divorce attorney is offering a service. Most service providers don’t get it right at the first attempt. While they get better over time, you don’t want to be a source of experience to the lawyer.

4- Will another lawyer be taking up my case at any point in time?

After conducting tons of research and asking tens of questions, you’ve decided to settle on a divorce lawyer.

5- Can I access all of my documents at will?

Your documents are all yours, and there are no reasons why your attorney should be keeping them away from you. A typical answer to this question should be a resounding yes.

6- Are there any hidden costs?

Most times, you may have to pay extra costs if the divorce process meets a specific condition.

7- What are the available means of communication?

Good divorce lawyers are excellent communicators. They must be available to answer your questions at any time while reaching you for information if need be.

1. What is Your Practice Area?

You need to know that some attorneys tend to be “jacks of all trades.” It’s a huge gamble to hire such lawyers to handle your divorce. The reason is that they lack in-depth knowledge, and most only care about money.

2. How Will We Communicate?

To smoothen things, you need to establish effective communication between you and your divorce attorney. So, when hiring this lawyer, you need to discuss how you’ll be communicating. You want to know the specific communication channels you’ll be using.

3. How Long Have You Been Practicing Divorce Law?

Some people argue that experience doesn’t matter as long as the divorce lawyer has the right academic qualifications. However, this is inaccurate as you need an attorney who has been in this field for many years. The reason is that this lawyer has handled numerous divorce cases and knows which strategies work and the ones that don’t.

5. Do You Offer any Service Assurance?

One of the biggest worries when hiring a divorce lawyer is whether he/she will deliver? So you want to know what assurance this attorney will give you. That’s why you should check out the track record of the lawyer you intend to hire.

6. How Much Do You Charge?

The other question to ask the divorce lawyer you plan to hire is the legal services he/she charges. To cut costs, you may assume that you should hire the cheapest divorce attorney. However, this may turn out to be more costly in the long run.

Is divorce expensive?

You probably already know that the entire process of getting a divorce is expensive, which is why most people worry about their finances. The expenses you’ll have will depend on a wide range of things including how complex your case is, whether there is custody of the kids involved, as well as how well you can work with your spouse during the divorce.

Is divorce stressful?

The entire process of getting a divorce is stressful, complex, and extremely difficult for all parties involved. However, by talking to your lawyer and asking them the aforementioned questions, they’ll be able to explain what you’ll have to expect during the process, as well as how it will look like.

Is it stressful to get divorced?

Getting a divorce is always extremely stressful for everyone involved, and the situation gets even more serious and daunting when there are children involved. So, if you are feeling uncertainty and denial as you prepare to meet with your divorce lawyer for the very first time, know that it is not unusual and that it happens to everyone.

How long do you have to wait to hire a lawyer?

Now, you might need to hire a lawyer immediately if your spouse has already filed for a divorce, however, if you are the one thinking about filing it, you could wait for several days, weeks, or months before making a decision. If you want to hire a specific attorney, they’ll ...

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