Do I need a lawyer?
Check out the following circumstances to make sure whether you need to have a lawyer or not.
You and your spouse have been wed for at least 5 years
You and your spouse have kids.
Either you or your spouse is the breadwinner while the other may have difficulty getting on his/her own two feet financially speaking, once the divorce is finalized.
You or your spouse has come upon inheritance while married to one another.
Either you or your spouse are in debt.
Where can I get a divorce lawyer?
There are many ways to get a divorce lawyer. Also, try asking your marriage counselor or therapist for a referral. Of course, you may ask your relatives or friends as well. Other lawyers can recommend those attorneys who specialize in divorce also.
It is also possible if you may even go straight to the courthouse to check out if a particular divorce lawyer strikes your fancy. No matter where you look, may it be in the yellow pages or in directories on-line, you should assess their credentials.
Meeting a lawyer for a consultation
After finding a promising lawyer, the next step would be to meet him/her for consultation. If he/she is hard to reach then this may be a sign that you may have a hard time getting in contact with him/her once you hire him/her as your divorce lawyer. Find out how much he/she may charge for the consultation. What exactly is his/her specialization? It’s important that he/she specializes in divorce, for you to have the best representation. You wouldn’t want a gynecologist dealing with your heart disease, would you? Of course, you’d seek the help of a cardiologist and with legal matters, it goes the same. Seek the help of a divorce attorney for divorce concerns.
What you ought to know after consultation with a divorce lawyer
The first time you meet with a divorce lawyer may be one of the few times that you are the one who gets to do most of the asking. Make the most of it. Find out everything you need to know in order to make the right choice of attorney. After speaking with a lawyer, make sure you’ve discussed the following matters:
- Length of practice
- Case specialization
- Divorce trial experience
- Experience in negotiation for settlements
- Familiarity with divorce mediators
- Custody dispute experience
- Familiarity with tax issues of divorce
- Familiarity with your particular situation/context
- Projected period of time for your case
- Projected outcome for your case
- Schedule and methods of contacting him/her
- Fee (Including specifics, like if travel time is included)
- Manner of billing
