The divorce process can be overwhelming and unpleasant. It can emotionally drain you, and how you handle it could have a long-term effect on how you feel about yourself.
Because of this, you must ensure that you have a knowledgeable and experienced divorce lawyer who will support you throughout the divorce process. The lawyer will ensure that you receive what you are due and provide a shoulder to lean on.
However, finding the right divorce lawyer is a major challenge. It can be difficult to choose a divorce lawyer today because so many of them are available today. Fortunately, you may ask the lawyer a few questions to see if he or she is a good fit. Before hiring a divorce lawyer, you should ask them the following important questions.
1. Do you deal with cases other than family and divorce law?
Of course, determining the response to this query might aid in assessing the lawyer’s commitment to your case. The focus on divorce matters may not be as intense if the lawyer also works in other areas of law than divorce law.
A divorce lawyer is better qualified both within and outside of the court. If you need legal assistance with your divorce, hire a divorce lawyer who specializes in divorce law from Giuliano Law.
2. How long have you been practicing family law?
You should also find out if the lawyer has experience with family law and divorce disputes. This question might give you a clearer picture of the lawyer’s experience. The experience of a divorce lawyer increases with the length of time the lawyer has been in practice. Experience is essential, especially if you anticipate a complicated or contentious divorce.
Trials in divorce cases are pretty much common. If that occurs, the divorce lawyer will need to:
- Contact direct and cross-examinations
- Present evidence to the court
- Raise objections to evidence
- Prepare legal arguments and file motions.
You can rest easy knowing that an accomplished and seasoned divorce lawyer is handling your case.
3. What steps are included in the divorce process?
You might not be aware of what a divorce process includes or what to anticipate if you have never gone through one. Divorce laws differ from state to state, and the length of your case will depend on your circumstances and how cooperative you and your ex-spouse are.
After reviewing all the information, your divorce lawyer will give you a timeline. This is crucial if you or your ex-spouse need to keep other commitments, have a full-time job, or want to review your financial condition. A competent divorce lawyer will guide you through each stage of the process so you can cognitively, emotionally, and psychologically get ready for what comes next.
4. How will you communicate about the progress of the case?
When it comes to picking a divorce lawyer, communication is essential. You will remain in frequent contact with your divorce lawyer throughout your divorce. You, therefore, require a lawyer with excellent communication skills. Ask the lawyer these questions to learn more about their communication style:
- How frequently will you contact me?
- Will you get in touch with me directly or via your team?
- Will you call, email, or meet in person to communicate?
- How long does it often take you to respond to calls?
5. Have you been involved in malpractice claims?
When choosing a divorce lawyer, it’s important to consider their reputation. You should thus inquire if the lawyer has ever run into issues with the bar association. Ask your potential lawyer about the specifics if his or her response is affirmative. You can hire him or her if you are satisfied with their responses and feel that there won’t be a problem for you. If that bothers you, you can look for another divorce lawyer.
6. How do you plan to determine child support?
Couples may want to talk privately about child custody in particular situations. The divorce process, in this instance, can go smoothly and amicably. Before hiring a lawyer, inquire about your chances of obtaining custody of your child(ren) if you haven’t already discussed it with your ex-spouse. Allow the lawyer to review state judges’ considerations when determining which parent should receive custody.
7. What is the process distributing marital assets?
Property rules govern how marital assets are divided. These regulations change depending on the state. Most states make it simpler to divide marital property, and joint property is distributed to both parties.
But if you want to prevent any biased accusations against the property, ask the divorce lawyer to accompany you as you go through the asset division. The moment a couple begins living apart, asset division may occur. Of course, this is preferable since it could speed up the divorce process.
8. What are your legal fees?
Lastly, you must ask the lawyer how much their legal fees will be. For their legal services, divorce lawyers typically bill clients in various ways. Additionally, some divorce proceedings might drag on for years. You must understand how this will affect your finances. When it comes to their legal fees, the following are some queries you should put to the divorce lawyer:
- Will you bill hourly or at a fixed rate?
- If you bill by the hour, does that include the time spent on calls, addressing inquiries, or sending emails?
- Do you charge different rates for time spent on and out of the court?
Final words
As already stated, hiring a divorce lawyer can be an uphill task, especially if you don’t know where to start from. But by asking then the above questions, it can be easy to determine whether or not they are the perfect fit. You can then go ahead and hire the lawyer if you feel comfortable with the responses they provide for the above questions.
