Choosing a Divorce Lawyer
Read more articles on Divorce and Custody.August 6, 2006
Posted by Kim
August 6, 2006
Posted by Kim
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Going through a divorce can be a very traumatic time for any person. One of the most important components of a divorce case is the divorce lawyer. Choosing one can be almost as traumatic and confusing as going through a divorce itself. Following are some of the things to help you while choosing a lawyer to be with you every step of the way down your journey towards being divorced.
The first step is to compile a list of possibilities. One of the easiest ways to do this is to pull out the phone book. There will be many listings for divorce lawyers, so it may be a little more difficult to narrow down the possibilities. Be sure to look for one that specializes in family law. Another easy way to find a lawyer is to ask people who have been through a divorce themselves. They may be able to recommend what worked for them. You can also ask for recommendations from their group of peers, but be sure to ask lawyers who do not specialize in family law about this.
Once you have found some possibilities, your first step should be to call each one of them. Feel them out in regards to what their fees are, how much they require you to pay up front and whether or not they have flexible payment plans. Be sure that you are able to talk to the attorney on the phone when you call because this will indicate how easy or difficult it will be to reach them directly. Choose a few that have payment plans and fees that work for you and set up an initial consultation. Many lawyers will do this initial consultation for free, so take advantage of it.
When you are getting ready to go to your initial consultation you must be prepared. Write up a list of questions that you want to ask and know the specifics of your case so that the lawyer can give you an accurate assessment of how he or she feels the case will go and whether or not they are the best person to help you. They will ask you things about your spouse and also about household things such as assets and whether you own a home or rent and other belongings. You are feeling them out, but at they same time, they are feeling you out too.
Your list of questions should contain different questions to give you a wide variety of understanding on how this lawyer will benefit your case. You should find out how much experience they have dealing with divorces and if there are children involved, how much experience they have with custody cases. Custody cases are often times more difficult than those where children are not involved. You should also ask questions to find out about the various fees. Some attorneys will charge a flat fee for the entire divorce and others will charge an hourly fee which may include charges for any phone calls you make, charges for traveling to court and other related expenses. Most attorneys will also require a retainer which is a specific dollar amount that you must pay when you hire the attorney. This will go towards the expenses, but guarantees that the lawyer will be working for you through the entire process.
Following are some questions you should ask:
• Do you specialize in divorce or is it just a part of your practice?
• What would your strategy be for my case?
• How many similar cases have you had recently?
• How long should this take?
• How can I reach you in an emergency and what would constitute an emergency?
• Who else in this practice will I deal with?
• What is your rate and how much is your retainer?
• Am I charged for any phone calls to you?
• How much would you estimate this to cost?
• Are there things I can do myself to cut down on that cost?
• Have you ever been charged with a malpractice and do you carry insurance?
• What do you predict would be the outcome of my case?
When choosing a lawyer, you should also pay close attention to how they interact with you. Make sure that you choose one that is helpful and answers all your questions completely. You should expect them to work for your best interest and do whatever they can to help you get what you are asking for, but do not expect them to break the law in doing so. They are working for you, but are sworn not to do anything illegal to help you. If there are other services that you end up needing, your attorney should be able to point you in the right direction for those as well.
Choosing a lawyer is a very personal thing. You need to find someone who will work with you and with whom you get along. They should have flexible payment plans and be willing to have a free initial consultation so you can make the best decision for you. Divorces are a very hard time for most people and finding a good, compassionate attorney can make things go so much more smoothly.
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