Going through a divorce is never easy, even when both you and your (ex) spouse have ended the relationship in an amicable way. This becomes even more complicated and upsetting if children are involved. One thing, though, can help to make the transition to your new life a bit easier and smoother: getting a great divorce lawyer.
The process for selecting a divorce attorney is not difficult in itself, but you must be aware of what exactly you should be looking for in the right lawyer. If you are not sure about this, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we will let you know how to find the best divorce attorney to support you each step of the way.
The Right Type of Experience and Expertise
First of all: if you are about to go through a divorce, you shouldn’t hire a standard lawyer. If you want to maximize the chances of a positive outcome for you, then you need to work with someone who knows family law inside out.
This means that you should only look at hiring a divorce attorney. Even better, you should select someone who has a few years of experience under their belt, and who can demonstrate the right type of expertise.
Yes, because no two divorces are the same. Yours could be a cooperative divorce, a mediation, or litigation. Before choosing who to hire, you need to be sure that they have a solid understanding of the specific type of separation that you are going through.
Great Clients’ Feedback
Did you think that online feedback was only useful to pick a restaurant or a hotel? Think again. Customer references and reviews are crucial in helping you to select a great divorce lawyer.
When you come across an attorney that you like the look of, remember to read as many reviews as possible. These will enable you to better understand what they are like, straight from those who have been there before you.
A Good Track Record of Successful Litigation
We already mentioned litigation, but it’s worth expanding on this a little bit. Even if your marriage ended in a pretty amicable way, you need to factor in the possibility that, at some point during the divorce proceedings, something might go awry.
Either you or your ex might start arguing over things, struggling to find an agreement, and things might go south when it comes to deciding on child custody. Or, perhaps, you are divorcing a narcissist, which is often one of the most challenging situations to find yourself in. For this reason, it’s always a good idea to hire a divorce attorney who has a strong track record of successful litigation.
You might not end up needing this particular type of support, in the end, but it won’t harm to be supported by someone who can come through in case the situation gets tricky.
Fair, Transparent, and Affordable Rates
AKA: remember that you have a budget to stick to. It would be great if you could afford that awesome, super-experienced, and always-winning divorce lawyer that you read about in a magazine. But let’s keep it real: you won’t be able to afford their crazy high rates.
Remember that an excellent lawyer doesn’t have to be overpriced. You can find great divorce attorneys who offer fair, flexible, and competitive rates. At the same time, you should also be wary of those who seem a bit too “cheap”.
The price that a lawyer charges should always be commensurate to a series of factors, including their expertise, their skills, and how in-demand they are. Try to find one that can strike the right balance between all of these elements without costing you an arm and a leg.
A Good Degree of Availability
This may sound obvious, but many people often forget about it: before you hire a lawyer, you should check with them that they have the right type of availability that you need from them. Even if you have found someone who seems to tick all of your boxes but already has a huge caseload, then you might need to look elsewhere.
Bear in mind that you’ll want your lawyer to be prompt, proactive, and responsive, both now and for the remainder of the time you’ll work together. So, don’t feel bad about ditching the “dream lawyer” if they sound way too busy.
Always Trust Your Instinct
Last but not least, as with many other things in life you want to consider how you feel about your lawyer, regardless of all the criteria that we discussed so far. Do you feel comfortable around them? Do they give you the impression of knowing what they’re talking about and caring about you and your situation?
These intangible factors are just as important as a good reputation, affordable prices, and expertise. Sometimes, even when everything seems to be perfect on paper, your guts just won’t let you trust someone: chances are that they’re right.
Selecting a Divorce Attorney: Learn All the Secrets
With our tips and tricks, selecting a divorce attorney who can support you through any type of separation is easy. You need to keep a few aspects in mind, such as the lawyer’s reputation, knowledge of family law, rates, and years of experience.
However, it’s also crucial to be confident in trusting your instinct. Ultimately, you’ll need to work with someone who can truly protect your interests and position and cares about the best outcome for you.
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