Never make the mistake of hiring the first divorce attorney that you end up meeting. When going through a divorce, you need to carefully select the attorney in order to ensure that the divorce attorney is best able to represent you in court. However, it can be tough to choose the best divorce attorney as there plenty of divorce attorneys out there. But, choosing the divorce attorney can either make or break your divorce. This is why you need to be better prepared on how to find a good divorce attorney. Choosing a lawyer to represent you is one of the most important decisions that you could possibly make. Even if you have a reference from a close friend or family member, you still need to do your homework. One has to ensure that the attorney they hire has sufficient experience and relevant qualification to handle the case.
There are many attorneys out there, most of which simply advertise themselves as being experts in divorce or family law. However, that is far from the truth. Family law is very complex and only an attorney who has worked on many divorce cases would have mastered family law. When it comes to family law, there are many subspecialties like guardianship, international custody law, custody law, and distribution of assets. Moreover, there are financial aspects of divorce that also have to be considered such as the following.
- Distribution of retirement benefits.
- Distribution of assets and property.
- Child support payments.
- Restraining orders.
- Requirements that relate to financial disclosures.
As family law is a vast body of law that is frequently updated, it is important that you know what to ask the divorce attorney in order to determine who should represent you. Now, if your case is simple and there are no children involved as well as minimal financial issues, only then can you even consider hiring a less experienced divorce attorney. However, if the divorce case is complex which involves a custody dispute, complicated financial issues, and substantial assets, then you need to weed out the best divorce attorney. The following top 8 questions will help you determine the best lawyer.
- Do You Solely Specialize In Divorce?
One of the most important questions that you should ask the divorce attorney on the first visit is if the attorney solely specializes in divorce or if divorce is simply a part of the practice. You need to know if the lawyer has actually mastered family law and is not just practicing it with different law. The divorce attorney must be specialized in divorce in order to help you achieve the best outcome. A specialized divorce attorney such as O’Fallon MO Divorce Attorney would know the ins-and-outs of a divorce proceeding. The attorney would know the legal procedure. Does the attorney hold any special certifications? What are the qualifications of the divorce attorney? By asking such questions, you can be rest assured that you are in good hands.
- How Long Have You Practiced Family Law?
Another important question that you should ask the divorce attorney is how long has he or she been practicing family law. The more experienced the attorney, the better results one can expect. When you hire an experienced attorney, you get to take advantage of all his or her experience. Ask the attorney about how many cases have been handled by him or her that are similar to yours in nature. It is crucial that you get an idea of whether the attorney is experienced enough to handle your case.
- What Strategy Would You Take For My Case?
You have to ask the divorce attorney which strategy would be followed to resolve the case. It is important that you have an idea of the strategy followed by the attorney beforehand. Thus, you will choose an attorney who follows a strategy that is best in line with your needs. Knowing about the strategy will allow you to understand if the attorney truly understands your situation and is committed to handling your case.
- How Long Would It Take For The Case To Be Resolved?
Divorce cases can take months or even years to be handled. This is why you should ask the divorce lawyer about how long it should take for your divorce proceedings to come to an end. Moreover, the best way to spot an experienced attorney is by finding out if he has an idea of how long divorce cases normally take.
- How Do I Get A Hold Of You? Will You Answer My Phone Calls?
You need to make sure that the divorce attorney that you hire is responsive and answers your phone calls on time. Never make the mistake of hiring a divorce attorney who takes weeks to respond as it would only lead to further delay. An experienced attorney will take out time for you to ensure that your case is successful. Furthermore, ask the lawyer how you can get a hold of him or her in case of an emergency.
- Who Will Be Working On Your Case?
Ask the attorney about who would be working on your case. You need to find out if the person representing you has the experience that is required. Moreover, try to meet with the person who will be handling your case in person during your first visit to help save time.
- How Will You Be Charged?
Divorce attorneys charge on an hourly basis and flat fee. Hence, you should ask about the fees, as well as terms and conditions of payment. Will you be charged based on time spent with paralegals, secretaries, and other lawyers? What is the rate? Is there any retainer fee up front? You have to ask these questions early on to determine if you can afford the divorce attorney.
- What Do You Expect From Me?
Finally, you need to ask the lawyer what is expected from you. Normally, the attorney will ask for financial and other documents from you.