There are many important factors to take into account when an individual is going through a divorce. One of the first things that should be addressed is making sure to get a lawyer who will help guide you through the process and help get you the best possible outcome from the potentially turbulent situation. The first thing that you should ask your lawyer is if divorce law is their specialty, or practice area. This goes back to ensuring that you will get the best possible result. The second thing that you should ask is if the lawyer uses a strategy of straight litigation, which is going on the offensive, or if they prefer to handle things in an amicable way, such as mediation or a settlement conference. It will likely depend on your personal situation as well. The third thing that you should keep in mind and ask your potential attorney is if they do a lot of mediation, and if they do, then you should follow up by asking what their settlement rate is. You will definitely want to have an attorney who is good at mediation and has a high settlement rate. That will make it easier on all parties and ease the stress of the process. The fourth question to ask is how the attorney’s firm will bill you. You will want to know if they will charge a flat rate or if they will bill hourly and for other services, like phone calls. The fifth question you will want to ask is if the individual attorney you have your consultation with will work on your file personally, or if it will be handled by someone else in the firm. You will want to know so that you can develop a relationship with that person so you can get the information you need and stay on top of the case to make sure it is going in the direction that you desire. The sixth thought to keep in mind is to check how well the attorney knows the judges and/or magistrates in the county that your case will be in. The better the relationship the firm has with them, the more likely they will be able to get a better solution for you. If they don’t know them at all then you will be at a disadvantage. The seventh thing to keep in mind is to ask for the attorney’s personal and pragmatic opinion on how they see your divorce case going. This will give you a good idea of what to expect and also to judge how honest the particular attorney is being. It is important to watch very closely how they react as they may just be blowing smoke in order to attain your business. Keep sharp at all times.
Key Takeaways:
- Divorces can be traumatic, and understanding the legal aspects of them can be difficult.
- Consultations with a divorce lawyer do not last long, so planning what questions you are going to ask is important.
- Finding a good lawyer that can explain everything to you, as well as be nice to you is a necessity.
“An attorney who participates in a lot of mediation is an attorney you want to consider for your divorce.”