As divorces are pretty hectic, a lot of people just go for the first divorce attorneys they find. While this is a straightforward strategy that takes up nothing of your time, it’s still a poor one. Divorces can take time and delve into complex legal matters so you’re going to need someone on your side with experience. You want to be with people who know what they’re doing.
Things to Ask Before Hiring Divorce Attorneys
1. Do they specialize in divorce?
There are lawyers who provide a host of services and divorce just happens to be one of them. While lawyers who don’t specialize in divorce will be able to help you, it won’t be the best kind of service you’ll find out there. On the other hand, specialized divorce attorneys will be experts in handling these matters. Regardless of the complexity of the divorce, your attorney should be able handle it with aptitude and intelligence.
2. How long will your case take?
The answer to this question doesn’t necessarily have to be down to the hour, but rather a rough estimate. An experienced divorce lawyer probably saw several cases that resembled yours during their years of practice, so they’ll know approximately how long it should take for the case to be over.
3. Will they be working on your case themselves?
If a lawyer has a rather large office, you can expect that he or she might only supervise while younger lawyers at the office handle the bulk of your divorce. If that’s the case, you should ask about their level of experience and even ask to meet with them to discuss your case.
4. How long does it take them to return phone calls?
Accessibility is an important factor that comes into play whether you’re hiring a lawyer or anyone else for any kind of service. Lawyers who have a reputation of not being reachable aren’t the best to hire. Find someone that you can reach in case of an emergency. After all a lawyer is someone you really depend on and the last thing you want in an emergency is to not be able to reach them.
5. What are the estimated costs for the divorce?
Money is always a priority and you need to know how much the whole divorce is going to cost you in terms of lawyer fees so you can prepare. If a lawyer’s hourly rates are too high for you then you need to look for someone else. Apart from hourly rates, lawyers will try not to answer how much the entire divorce is likely to cost that’s because it’s really hard to estimate. So take care if a lawyer immediately gives you a low number, they’re probably just trying to get you to hire them.
Your divorce attorneys are your greatest allies during this difficult time of your life. Asking about availability, costs, whether they’ll handle your case personally, and about your case specifically will help you determine whether the lawyer sitting across from you really has your best interests in mind.