Finding a Lawyer

Divorce lawyers have the benefit of giving you sound legal advice, which may help you avoid costly mistakes when your marriage ends and you divorce. The process of divorce involves many legal technicalities that can affect your well being as well as your children's well being for many years. If you are thinking about divorce of if your spouse has told you that he or she wants a divorce, the first thing you should do is consult an attorney that specializes in either divorce or family law. Get the advice before you regretfully make a decision that may affect your rights. This might be common sense to you but it is still worth mentioning that you should not use the same lawyer as your husband or wife.

Start your search for a divorce lawyer by getting referrals by your friends and family. You can also contact your local bar association or searching through directories of divorce lawyer on the Internet. Find a lawyer that will work with you and will fight for your rights.

Once you have found some potential divorce lawyers, you must set up interviews and get some basic information on how they plan to handle your case and if you comfortable with the lawyer. During the initial interviews bring up the following questions to better help you decide if this lawyer if going to be the one to handle your divorce.

Questions to Ask a Lawyer during the Initial Interview:

What is your experience as a divorce lawyer?
How many divorce cases have you handled?
Are you a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers?
What steps are involved in the divorce process?
How long will the divorce process take?
Do you have the time to give my case the attention it deserves?
Are phone calls encouraged? If so then what are the best times, and how promptly will you return my calls?
Do you prefer scheduled appointments rather than phone calls to discuss my case?
How much will it cost me? Is there a retainer?
What things do you charge for at an hourly rate?
Do you send out bills monthly?
How much are the filing fees for a divorce?
Will it be you or a legal assistant that will handle my case?
If a legal assistant is involved, what will be their hourly rate?
What is your views on settlement versus litigation? (Don't battle in court if you don't need to)
Will you give me a written retainer agreement?
This contract will state what the divorce lawyer agrees to do for you, how much and how often you will be billed.

You will need to as well as should interview a few lawyers before you find the one that makes you feel comfortable. Never be afraid to ask questions. Divorce lawyers are there to help you and they should be willing to discuss any of your concerns as well as any aspect of the case. If they have a specific suggestion in regards to your case, you can ask them how they think it will affect you in the future. This is all new to you but for your divorce lawyer it should be second nature. Remember that you are paying them for their knowledge in this area.

Article written by Mike
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