Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Divorce Attorney
You’ve made the difficult decision to get a divorce. Now it’s time to find a lawyer. But should you hire one? And if so, how do you choose the right attorney for your needs?
We’re going to walk through some questions that every client should ask their prospective divorce attorney before signing any paperwork or making any financial commitments.
Questions to Ask a Divorce Attorney Before Working with Them
How long do you think this process will take and how much will it cost?
The length of your divorce depends on many factors. The most important one is the complexity of your case. The more complicated, the longer it will take. It’s also important to know that legal fees vary greatly depending on the complexity of your case, so be sure to have a good idea of how much your legal fees will be before hiring an attorney.
Will you be the only attorney handling my case?
You can always ask whether the attorney will be working with a team of attorneys. You might be wondering why this is important, or why it would matter to you.
It’s important because each divorce case is different, and it’s likely that there are several aspects of your case that require expertise, knowledge, and experience in order to get them right. For example:
You may have some questions about child custody laws in your state
An attorney who primarily practices in family law, and has experience working on similar cases, will know how those laws apply to your situation and can help guide you through the process.
A divorce can involve dividing property
An attorney who primarily practices in real estate law could advise on how best to divide up assets like homes or cars between two partners who want nothing more than for things not to get ugly between them.
Will you help me find a mediator?
Mediation is another option for couples who want to avoid going to trial. Mediators are not required to be attorneys, although they often are. Mediators are neutral third-party individuals that do not represent either side, but they’re trained in negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
If you do choose to go this route, ask your lawyer if she can help you find a mediator.
How often will you communicate with me about my case?
You should also ask about how often your attorney will be in touch with you and keep you updated about your case.
As a client, it is important to know what’s happening with your case and how things are progressing. If your attorney cannot offer regular updates, this could be problematic for you. Your attorney should also be able to answer any questions that come up during the course of their work on your behalf.
If you’re going through a divorce, it can be hard to know where to start. The first thing you should do is make sure that you have all the information you need about your case and that your attorney is someone who will be able to help.
Trust us, this is not an area where you want to skimp on quality!