A good consumer knows that he or she always has a choice when
contracting for a service. This is just as true for those looking for
lawyers as looking for any kind of tradesman. If you want to hire a
lawyer, make sure that you ask him or her the five questions below. They
may not cover every bit of ground for your personal case, but they
should give you a good idea of how competent the lawyer may be and how
likely he or she is to help you make it through your divorce
comfortably.
Is This Your Specialty?
If you live in
almost any city in the United States, you might notice that there are
more than a few lawyers around. If you live in a major city, there might
be hundreds. As such, you might want to make sure that you find a
lawyer that actually specializes in divorce. While many lawyers may be
able to handle the process of a divorce, you will be better off if you
are able to find an attorney who has a bit of real-world experience with
the process.
How Much Do You Charge?
This might
seem like a basic question, but it is very important. Lawyers should not
be the kind of people who keep price sheets around. A good lawyer will
look at your case before he gives you any kind of price. If you just
want something basic, he or she may be able to give you a rough quote -
be careful of anyone who offers you a flat price, though. A good lawyer
knows that a more complex case takes more time and thus more money.
How Do You Feel About Going to Court?
Many
divorces do not go to court. Unfortunately, this often means that many
divorce attorneys will not try to go to court even when it is
appropriate. If you need an attorney that will actually fight for you,
you should take the time to make sure that he or she is comfortable with
the idea of going to court. If not, you might want to look elsewhere.
From time to time, you really do need a fighter in your corner.
What Do You Think of Mediation?
Mediation
is a rather major part of divorce law for attorneys who want to save
their clients money. It reduces court fees, and it often works to help
make the process go more easily. Unfortunately, some lawyers think that
anything short of going to court shows weakness. What your lawyer thinks
about mediation tells you how likely he or she is to work outside the
box.
Why Do You Handle Divorce Cases?
This is a big
question, but one that is not often asked. If you want to find out how a
lawyer will handle your case, ask why he or she practices divorce law.
How he or she answers the question will tell you quite a bit about his
or her personality and ability to work on your case.
Great tips for hiring a family law attorney. My wife and I have been struggling with our marriage lately. We don't want to get a divorce but it might happen. I want to be prepared just in case. Good point about mediation.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.kallandreilly.net/family_law.nxg
I never would have thought about asking a lawyer why he or she deals with divorce cases. Though I would imagine that would clue you in to a lot about the lawyer and how he or she will deal with your case! My sister is in the process of looking for a divorce attorney and I know that she's not quite in her right mind with everything that's going on. I will definitely have to give her this list of questions so she can make sure to hire someone who will take good care of her. http://www.diannaharrislaw.com/Services/
ReplyDeleteKnowing what that lawyer's specialty is can either make or break your case. You want to hire someone that knows that kind of law inside and out. Knowing what their views on mediation and going to court is a good idea as well. I'd prefer mediation, but you can't control what the other person does during a divorce. That's why it's good to know about both. http://www.garrettlawfirmPA.com
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