Once you’re faced with a divorce, it can be hard to know where to turn and what to do. Yet, getting the right divorce attorney is crucial for what could be a less costly, quicker divorce compared to a long, drawn-out emotional and financial nightmare. Put differently, the selection of the right attorney for your divorce will likely be one of the most critical factors in the outcome of your divorce.
However, with such a massive pool of divorce attorneys to select from, making such a crucial decision can be highly challenging—specifically since the needs of each case will be different. Therefore, the most important thing is to go with an attorney who will keep your best interests at the forefront of the settlement negotiations and is familiar with dealing with similar situations.
Finding the right divorce attorney will take a lot of research and time, but selecting your legal representation should not be taken lightly. To make things easier for you, here are four tips to help you find the right divorce attorney for your case.
Make Sure They Specialize In Family Law
As you probably know, attorneys can practice in many different areas of law, and for your case, you want to be sure that they focus on divorce and specialize in family law. Family law is the branch of civil law relating to legal issues and disputes among family members like divorce, child custody and support, adoption, and alimony.
After all, if you were getting heart surgery, would you prefer an oncologist who also dabbles in other areas of medicine or a specialized and experienced cardiologist to do the surgery? Dedicated family law professionals like divorce attorney Dorie Rodgers can help you overcome the difficulties surrounding your separation and look for effective solutions to your family law concerns, better than any other lawyer who specializes in another law area.
Go With An Attorney From Your Local Jurisdiction
In addition to securing an attorney specializing in family law, you should also go with an attorney from your local jurisdiction. Although many divorce attorneys are licensed to practice family law in several states, laws can vary at local levels. For that reason, you want a divorce attorney who’s well-versed with the legislature in your local area and has a good relationship with local judges and officials.
For example, suppose your divorce is about to take place in the State of Colorado. In that case, you should know that Colorado is a strictly no-fault divorce state, and you should go with a local attorney who’s been through numerous no-fault divorces before. Local family law experts like divorce lawyer Johnson Law Group will provide you with skilled representation to guide you through the entire divorce procedure and build a strong foundation for the next chapter in your life.
Meet With More Than One Attorney
A good part of the research process for the right divorce attorney for your case should include meeting with more than one attorney to acknowledge which one is the best fit for you. This process will allow you to notice how each prospective attorney will approach your divorce and what they’ll do to build the best possible case for you.
While meeting with different attorneys, you’ll likely see a wide variety of different personalities and answers to your questions. Ask yourself whether what the different divorce attorneys are telling you makes logical sense. And if you get advice that seems too good to be true or doesn’t make logical sense, keep meeting divorce attorneys until you find one that does.
Consider Your Budget
Think about your budget ahead of time because you don’t want to end up spending more than you anticipated at the beginning. Also, some people make the mistake of believing that they can’t afford an attorney at all and don’t even look into the possibility of hiring someone.
If your budget is very tight, you can talk to a family law attorney about doing just a couple of things in your case or making a flat fee arrangement. Balancing the amount of legal assistance you need and the cost of those services should be a serious consideration because family law issues are essential and can often affect you for the rest of your time.
That means that failing to spend a bit more for a top-tier divorce attorney now can end up haunting you for years to come. So when shaping your budget, keep in mind that the more likely your case will be high-conflict or contested, the more attorneys will charge.
For that reason, talk to your potential candidates about the budget you have in mind before you sign any agreement with them. Speak frankly and let them know about your budget constraints and ability to pay. Many of them will be willing to create flexible payment options to help you afford professional representation.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that the divorce lawyer you select should be someone you can trust and feel comfortable with and who has a broad knowledge of family law and divorce procedures in your local area. In addition, make sure to know your budget beforehand and meet with multiple potential candidates to find the one who’ll advise you best and guide you through this challenging process with ease.
