Going through a divorce is one of life’s toughest challenges. When you are looking for an attorney to handle your divorce, you want someone who knows what they are doing and will understand your situation. If you’ve never hired an attorney before, the process can seem overwhelming.
To make it easier, here are seven tips for choosing the right divorce attorney for you:
- Research and interview experienced family law attorneys. When you talk with potential candidates, ask them if they have handled cases similar to yours. The better your attorney understands the law and your case, the faster you can finalize your divorce.
- Find someone who is reasonable and interested in getting you a fair settlement. Having an attorney who encourages you to drag out your divorce will have you spending more money and increase tension with your ex, neither of which may be beneficial.
- Find someone who has worked with other professionals you may need to consult for your divorce. If you own a business with your spouse, you may need to hire someone who can complete a business valuation. If you have significant assets from multiple sources, you may need a forensic accountant to properly document all the assets you and your spouse need to divide.
- If you are interested in alternative dispute resolution, find an attorney with experience in collaborative divorce or mediation. Both these methods likely will save you time and money in finalizing your divorce.
- Find someone who is a good listener and responds to your communication with them. You want someone who cares about your settlement and your needs, as well as someone who promptly responds to any of your questions or concerns.
- Find someone who is a skilled negotiator.The better negotiator your divorce attorney is, the better you will feel about how they advocated for your needs in the divorce settlement.
- Find someone who is honest with you. You want to know the truth about what a fair settlement will look like or if you are asking for an unreasonable amount of assets or are unlikely to gain primary custody of your children.
Ultimately, you want a divorce attorney who will be your advocate and efficiently handle your case. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be able to find the right attorney and settle your divorce quickly so you can move on.