How to Choose the Best Divorce Lawyer for You
How do I Choose the Best Divorce Lawyer for Me?
There are a lot of divorce lawyers out there, but which is best for you? Each divorce is unique and different. Further, divorces are wrought with complex legal, financial and emotional issues that vary from case to case. Thus, choosing the divorce lawyer who is best suited for your particular case is very important. Selecting the best lawyer for your case may seem overwhelming at first; but, if you keep the following themes in mind, your search will likely be more fruitful: 1) choose an experienced and reputable attorney; and, 2) choose an attorney with whom you are compatible.
The Process of Selecting The Best Divorce Lawyer
Consider the Divorce Lawyer's Experience
The process of selecting the best divorce lawyer for your case begins by considering the lawyer's experience level. It's always best to read your attorney's bio on their website and check how many years of experience they have. Notwithstanding, it's important to check how many years of experience the attorney has practicing family law in particular. For example, a lawyer that has practiced personal injury for 20 years but family law for 2 years is not an experienced family law attorney. Further, does the lawyer practice solely divorce and family law or are they a jack of all trades that does criminal law, personal injury, wills, family law etc? Attorneys that focus their practice on family and divorce only are much more likely to have valuable experience that could help you in your case. Lastly, working with an attorney that focuses their practice on family law ensures that attorney has experience going in front of family law judges and opposing family law lawyers.
Initial Contact with Divorce Lawyer
Once you have identified a potential divorce lawyer, check and see if their office offers free telephone consultations. Like Meriwether & Tharp, several divorce firms will offer a free telephone consultation. When you call in for your telephone consultation, be ready to answer basic questions about your legal situation. Be sure to communicate your goals and expectations. Once you have shared your information, you should ask which lawyer(s) will represent you. The best divorce law firms will consider your location, listen to your case information & case goals and use that information to match you up with one of their attorneys that best meets your needs. Unfortunately, smaller firms will not be able to do this, as they won't have a lot of attorneys for you to choose from. At a smaller divorce firm, you will be probably be assigned to an attorney that you hope will work well with you.
Hiring a Divorce Lawyer & Costs
It is also important to choose an attorney who shares your vision and philosophy regarding the case. If it is your desire to handle the case as amicably as possible, do not choose an attorney who has a reputation for being litigious. Conversely, if it is your desire to seek a trial in your case, do not choose an attorney who has no trial experience or who is unwilling to share their trial history with you.
After you identify an attorney with experience and with whom you feel comfortable, it is also important to ensure that you hire an attorney who is the most conducive to your economic situation. Often times a divorce involves severing your financial ties with your spouse, which may lead to a decreased standard of living for both spouses involved. Therefore, it is essential to make a decision regarding which attorney you will choose based upon your particular financial situation. Although it is common for more seasoned and experienced attorneys to have higher rates than relatively inexperienced attorneys, several experienced attorneys offer various forms of fee structures that may make utilizing their services more economical.