QUALITIES TO LOOK OUT FOR IN A GOOD DIVORCE ATTORNEY
Going through a divorce is one of the stressful experiences that anyone can ever undergo. The experience can even be worse when the other parties are not willing to cooperate. In such cases, working with marriage chancellor alone will not be enough. You will need to work with a good divorce attorney to be able to work through the whole experience successful.
GOOD EXPERIENCE
When it comes to matters to do with law, the experience is very critical. Lawyers who have been in the legal world for a long time are placed in a better position to win any case. This is because they have gathered enough knowledge and skills from past encounters and they can, therefore, use it to win any case under the sun. A well experience attorney is an essential resource when it comes to getting a divorce from your spouse successfully.
GOOD COMMUNICATION
Another essential quality that a good divorce attorney must possess is an excellent communication skill. When presenting your case before a court of law, communication plays a significant role. Therefore, if your attorney cannot communicate effectively, then it merely means that it will be hard for you to win the case. When talking to your attorney, one of the things that you are supposed to pay attention to is their communication skills. If they are not impressive, the best thing to do is to walk away from them.
AVAILABILITY
When going through a divorce, the stress can be overwhelming, and this simply means that you will not have enough time to follow your lawyer. A great divorce attorney understands this, and this is why they will make themselves available for you. If you find that your potential attorney has many cases out there, then the chances are that they might not have enough time for your case. This is dangerous because they might not be able to prepare appropriately.
GOOD REPUTATION
It is also to work with a divorce attorney who has a good reputation. The only way an attorney can earn a good reputation is by proving to their clients that they have the ability to win cases. This can be established by reading online reviews.
How to pick a good divorce attorney
Does it really matter who my attorney is?
Going through a divorce or custody battle is an extremely intimidating and overwhelming experience. It is very common to feel alone and lost throughout the entire process. The average person may have no idea what family law is or what rights he or she may have. It is important to examine how to pick a divorce attorney. This is why it is common for someone to find an attorney to help him or her through his or her case. However, far too often, clients choose their attorneys based on cost and friend recommendations and fail to hire a qualified attorney- the results can be disastrous.
I am sure many of you have heard the classic line, “I have a friend who is a lawyer. I am sure they could help you for really cheap.” What that friend forgets to tell you is that their lawyer friend is a criminal defense attorney, who has only had three family law clients in the last ten years of his legal practice. You end up meeting with the attorney. He seems very knowledgeable and willing to help you. You end up retaining him to begin your divorce process.
Does your attorney help prepare you?
The attorney drafts all your initial documents. Everything appears fine. You do not question anything, because you assume he has done his job. Little do you know, the attorney has forgotten to include your request for spousal maintenance in the initial petition. Your spouse is now off the hook, and you are without financial support. Further, you show up to your final hearing completely unprepared. Your attorney never showed you the exhibits he was using or what the opposing party was using. He practiced questioning with you for 5 minutes before the hearing, and he focused more on your expressions than what you say.
Is cost the most important factor?
A big factor in choosing an attorney for many people is the cost associated with it. Many clients may think that it does not really matter who their attorney is, as long as they have one. They all went to law school and passed the bar exam, so how bad can someone really be? Unfortunately, it can be really bad. This does not mean that a cheaper attorney is worse. In fact, many lower cost attorneys are excellent.
Choose someone who specializes in family law
Always be careful in who you decide to represent you in family law matters. Make sure to find someone who knows what they are doing, and is not simply in it to make a quick deal off of you. Be very cautious of attorneys who practice in other areas. Always ask, if meeting with an attorney outside of family law, if they have litigated any family law cases, and how many. If you don’t, you may end up with a result you are very unhappy with.
Divorce Lawyers
Divorce is often referred to as a dissolution of marriage. It is a court judgment that legally ends the marriage and usually divides the marital assets and property.
Uncontested Divorce: Key points
In the case of an uncontested divorce, the couple agrees on all vital matters relating to the case, including custody, child support, and visitation, along with property division among others. There must be a “total agreement.”
In an uncontested proceeding, the two parties can file a joint petition (one of the necessary forms needed for the proceedings) alongside a copy of their written and signed agreement. The required paperwork and the necessary instructions are provided by the State of Missouri to enable you to successfully file for dissolution. This option reaches a resolution quickly, as the parties do not have to go through the potentially prolonged process of reaching decisions with the help of mediation or lawyers.
Details about Contested Divorce
The materials provided by the state are for “uncontested dissolutions without complicated issues;” if you are likely to be facing a contested divorce, there are many other factors involved
In a contested case where both parties are unable to come to a mutual conclusion on alimony, the division of debts, support for their child, custody, and similar family law issues, the circuit court will make such decisions for them. This option usually prolongs the divorce process and is more expensive. It is, however, the best way to ensure that both parties get to present their case, as well as any evidence.
How To Choose The Right Divorce Lawyer
Choosing the right lawyer for your divorce can feel a bit overwhelming. There are lots of attorneys, but they are definitely not all the same. Some do not practice family law at all, so you certainly do not want someone inexperienced to help with your case. Others may be too aggressive or not aggressive enough for what you need.
How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer
There is no mathematical formula or system on how to choose a divorce lawyer. Instead, you should do your research, set your expectations, and ultimately go with whom you think will work best for your needs.
Understand What Your Divorce Lawyer Does
Although some lawyers are great at listening to why the divorce happened and addressing some of your emotional problems, please understand that dealing with your pain, anger, sadness, or frustration with your soon-to-be-ex-spouse is not their role.
Set Realistic Expectations for Your Lawyer’s Role
While there are certainly some aspects of that process that are unavoidably emotional, it is part of your lawyer’s job to help you focus on the logical facets of what is happening and your long-term goals.
ecide What Kind of Divorce Process You Need
This may seem like an odd decision to make—but it is an important one! You need to decide whether you think your divorce is going to cause an all-out conflict, you can work everything out, or if you need a little help to get everything resolved.
Choosing the right divorce solicitor
Everyone going through a divorce wants to emerge on the other side in the best position possible. The best way to make sure this happens is to instruct a quality solicitor. However, with so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start looking.
A good family solicitor will have an excellent word-of-mouth reputation. Try talking to friends and family who have already been through the process. They will be able to tell you stories about firms and lawyers who gave good service and help you avoid those who did not. Even in the digital age, word-of-mouth still carries a lot of weight, especially when it comes from people you know and trust
Has a solicitor been recommended by the Legal 500? Although recommendations from people you know are very helpful, the Legal 500 can give you a more overall sense of a solicitor or law firm’s quality of service. So if advice from family and friends has not helped as much as you would like, this is a relatively safe barometer of quality.
Be mindful of solicitors who keep looking at the clock during your first appointment. This is not a promising sign. A top quality solicitor will care about your case and give you their full attention. If they are checking the time during your first appointment that should tell you how much they value you as a client
Be wary of solicitors who do not give you a straight answer. This is especially true when it comes to questions you may have about costs. It is a very important part of the divorce process so it is natural to wonder how your finances will be resolved. If your solicitor cannot give you answers within a qualified range of parameters, you should reconsider having them advise you.