Divorce Lawyers

Reasons to Hire Divorce Lawyers

Not all divorces are nasty. In fact, some can be downright friendly between the two parties. If you fall into this category, do not think you should save yourself money by “doing it yourself.” In the long run, it can really pay off to hire a divorce lawyer. Here are the reasons why:

• Divorce lawyers understand how timing works for insurance and taxes.
• Divorce lawyers can anticipate future financial complications that may arise.
• Hiring a lawyer can absolve the issue of non-disclosure, and eliminate a claim that one party was “taken advantage of.”

Using a divorce lawyer can be especially helpful when hammering out child custody agreements. This is to be sure that the language is precise and cannot be loosely interpreted, in case there are disagreements in the future.

How to Find a Lawyer

The best way to find a good divorce attorney is by word of mouth. Ask friends and family members for referrals. Do not trust advertisements on television, in the phone book, or in the newspaper. Divorce lawyers with good reputations are usually busy enough they do not have to take out extravagant ads in order to get clients.

Interview many lawyers until you find one that you can trust. Make sure you feel he/she is working in your best interest. Some things to consider when hiring an attorney include:

• Does the lawyer prefer to settle or go to trial?
• What kind of references can he/she provide?
• How many cases do the lawyer and his/her associates handle at one time?
• Is the lawyer a member of a professional association?
• Has he/she met your spouse’s attorney in court/mediation before? If so, what was the outcome?
• What are the particular lawyer’s strengths? Child custody, property division, etc? Do these specialties fall in line with your priorities?

Check out your lawyer on a ratings website such as theMartindale Hubbell, which has a reputation for using a respectable ratings system.

Despite all of your careful research and interviewing, you may end up with a lawyer that you do not like, or who does not value your priorities. In these cases, you can most certainly fire your divorce attorney and hire a new one. However, you still have to pay your old lawyer, and if it is done near or during a trial, it is frowned upon by the courts. That is why careful research into divorce lawyers is a necessity.

Costs of Hiring a Lawyer

During the interview and hiring process, make sure you get a range of estimated expenses from the lawyer. Of course, your spouse and his/her lawyer will also determine how much the divorce will cost you. It is hard to control costs due to that factor. However, you should find out the fees associated with a lawyer before hiring him/her. Some fees to ask about include:

• What kinds of flat fees are charged, and for what services?
• What are the hourly fees?
• What kinds of costs does the lawyer charge you for? (Postal charges, copies, mileage, etc.)

Most flat fees are for specific things, like motions. Hourly fees vary greatly depending on the lawyer’s experience and reputation. But, do not be fooled. If a lawyer charges more per hour, but can get the work done in half the time or less than “cheaper” lawyers, you come out ahead.

Usually a retainer is required before a lawyer will take on your case. This retainer is an advance payment to be put towards fees, charges, and costs associated with your case. Additionally, you will be asked to sign a retainer agreement, which lays out billing and fee agreements.