Do I Need a Lawyer for My Divorce? How to Find the Right One

Divorce regularly ranks as one of the most stressful events faced by human beings during a lifetime according to most psychiatric stress level indicators. Naturally, the emotional toll is immense for spouses; as well as any dependents and other loved ones involved. Therefore, retaining an objective and levelheaded approach towards divorce strategy may not be possible without outside assistance. Perhaps divorce is not in your best interests, and maybe, your issues are better resolved through relationship and marriage counseling? Perhaps even simple revaluation of priorities and open and honest communication is best, as it is certainly much cheaper than doing so through an attorney. If you decide that divorce is inevitable, deciding whether to seek legal counsel during this period should be your next decision.

Is a Divorce Lawyer Necessary?

Before proceeding full steam with divorce action, consider whether a divorce attorney is in your best interests. Answering the following important questions can give you a general idea on whether you will require legal counsel or not.

1. What is the status of child custody arrangements?
2. What is the amount of real and personal property involved both personal and martial assets?
3. What is the status of your divorce in general? Will it be contested by yourself or your spouse?
4. If there are any of above involved, consulting with a divorce attorney will prove highly important.

How to Choose and Retain a Divorce Attorney

Retaining a divorce attorney is the first step to starting your legal divorce strategy. However, what lawyer should you use for your divorce? Typically, recommendations are a good place, however, using the internet is a solid second option and a means of confirming the first. Above all, being comfortable with your divorce attorney is important. This means meeting them in person, typically in a consultation, and them listening to your concerns and answering your questions. Some important factors to consider include:

1. Are fees and other billable hours clearly understood and easy for you to track?
2. Does your attorney respond within a reasonable time period?
3. Is your attorney including you in the decision making process and keeping your abreast of the process?
4. What type and length of experience does the attorney have exclusively for divorce cases?
5. What is the outcome rate of his cases?
6. Does the attorney have references from past clients in a similar divorce situation as yourself, and can you contact them independently?

Getting a Free Consultation with a Divorce Lawyer

In most cases, divorce attorneys are willing to offer prospective clients a free consultation, which allows individuals to see more than one attorney, compare, and incur no billable hours. Be wary of an attorney more concerned with arranging billing methods even before learning the specifics of your case.

• The content of this page is provided for informational purposes only. If you need advice regarding a divorce issue, click here to talk to Edward Adams or a Divorce Lawyer near you.