Divorce Help 101
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Finding an Attorney
One of the most important steps you will take in the entirety of your divorce will be selecting an attorney. The attorney a person selects to represent them through their divorce or family law case will be someone that will hear the most intimate life and financial details and is also someone they will have to trust when it comes to making life-long decisions.
The problem most people encounter when it comes to finding a divorce attorney is how to go about locating one. Generally people will start with a google search for "Divorce Attorney" or will revert to the yellow pages. However, these two resources should be relegated to last resorts.
There are several factors to consider when looking for a domestic or family law attorney. Perhaps the most important is to seek out an attorney or law firm that focuses largely on or limits their practice to domestic relations. You want an attorney who is familiar with other domestic attorneys and the domestic courts in your state.
Avoid law firms or attorneys who hold themselves out as “one stop shops” to address any legal need you may have. Their hourly rate or retainer fee may be lower, but in the end representation from such an attorney can cause you to incur more legal fees, to lose out on your share of your marital estate or, even worse, time with your children. The reason is that these attorneys often lack the skills or simply don’t have the know how to properly handle your case.
The best way to find a divorce attorney is to ask around for recommendations. Talk to friends who have gone through a divorce and find out not only who represented them, but who represented their spouse. Often the best representation comes from attorneys who have been on the other side of a friend’s divorce. If you know any, ask other attorneys who they would recommend. Often your state or local bar will maintain a list of divorce attorneys. Ask other professionals such as bankers or accountants for recommendations. From these resources, compile a list of attorneys to speak with.
Make appointments with several of these attorneys and go see them – not only to learn about divorce, but to find the attorney who you are most comfortable with. Remember, when you go to see an attorney, simply because you are there to see them does not mean that you have to hire that attorney. Once you have seen several attorneys, then make your choice.
Regardless if you are initiating your divorce or if you are responding to allegations made by your spouse, you can use this process to find an attorney. Be patient and remember the attorney who you hire will play an extremely important role in the rest of your life.
Disclaimer
The problem most people encounter when it comes to finding a divorce attorney is how to go about locating one. Generally people will start with a google search for "Divorce Attorney" or will revert to the yellow pages. However, these two resources should be relegated to last resorts.
There are several factors to consider when looking for a domestic or family law attorney. Perhaps the most important is to seek out an attorney or law firm that focuses largely on or limits their practice to domestic relations. You want an attorney who is familiar with other domestic attorneys and the domestic courts in your state.
Avoid law firms or attorneys who hold themselves out as “one stop shops” to address any legal need you may have. Their hourly rate or retainer fee may be lower, but in the end representation from such an attorney can cause you to incur more legal fees, to lose out on your share of your marital estate or, even worse, time with your children. The reason is that these attorneys often lack the skills or simply don’t have the know how to properly handle your case.
The best way to find a divorce attorney is to ask around for recommendations. Talk to friends who have gone through a divorce and find out not only who represented them, but who represented their spouse. Often the best representation comes from attorneys who have been on the other side of a friend’s divorce. If you know any, ask other attorneys who they would recommend. Often your state or local bar will maintain a list of divorce attorneys. Ask other professionals such as bankers or accountants for recommendations. From these resources, compile a list of attorneys to speak with.
Make appointments with several of these attorneys and go see them – not only to learn about divorce, but to find the attorney who you are most comfortable with. Remember, when you go to see an attorney, simply because you are there to see them does not mean that you have to hire that attorney. Once you have seen several attorneys, then make your choice.
Regardless if you are initiating your divorce or if you are responding to allegations made by your spouse, you can use this process to find an attorney. Be patient and remember the attorney who you hire will play an extremely important role in the rest of your life.
Disclaimer
