The importance of finding a good divorce lawyer cannot be
overemphasized. Divorce attorneys are plentiful, so it's crucial that
divorcing couples analyze their choices and select the person best for
them. Since family law cases are extremely sensitive and everyone
involved is under stress, it can be easy to make mistakes. Fortunately,
it's just as easy to avoid these following mistakes when choosing a
family law attorney.
Mistake 1: Hiring a Lawyer Too Late
Many couples hesitate to hire a divorce lawyer. They think once they do, everything is final and their marriage and family relationships will automatically disintegrate. In reality, it takes a year for most divorces to be finalized, and many families go on to live amicably after divorce. Divorce is filled with complicated issues such as property divisions, child custody, alimony, and so forth. You need a professional to help sort through these, and you must retain him or her as soon as possible. Find the best lawyer possible soon after you decide to divorce.
Mistake 2: Googling
Everyone relies on Google today, but search engines are not the best places to find divorce attorneys. Most people don't randomly Google physicians, local schools, or houses of worship. Instead, they ask family members, friends, and trusted colleagues. When divorcing, you should do the same. A friend or family member can give you a specific recommendation based on experience, whereas Google can only show you things like websites, degrees, and statistics.
Mistake 3: Hiring Someone With No Basic Answers
Just because a lawyer graduated from Harvard or Yale does not mean he or she is the best family law attorney for you. For example, your lawyer may have recently transitioned from corporate or criminal law and still be familiarizing himself with what divorce attorneys do. Therefore, he may not know the answers to questions such as how do you handle property divisions, or how many divorce cases has this firm settled. If the attorney can't answer your questions satisfactorily, you should move on.
Mistake 4: Hiring Someone Who Makes You Uncomfortable
Divorce attorneys become long-term fixtures in their clients' lives. Your family law attorney will be no different, so feeling comfortable around him or her is vital to a good case. Watch a prospective attorney's body language and tone of voice. Is his tone too cold? Is her body language closed (crossed arms, clenched hands, and so on)? Does the attorney seem reluctant to learn specifics about your case? If yes, you should keep looking.
Mistake 1: Hiring a Lawyer Too Late
Many couples hesitate to hire a divorce lawyer. They think once they do, everything is final and their marriage and family relationships will automatically disintegrate. In reality, it takes a year for most divorces to be finalized, and many families go on to live amicably after divorce. Divorce is filled with complicated issues such as property divisions, child custody, alimony, and so forth. You need a professional to help sort through these, and you must retain him or her as soon as possible. Find the best lawyer possible soon after you decide to divorce.
Mistake 2: Googling
Everyone relies on Google today, but search engines are not the best places to find divorce attorneys. Most people don't randomly Google physicians, local schools, or houses of worship. Instead, they ask family members, friends, and trusted colleagues. When divorcing, you should do the same. A friend or family member can give you a specific recommendation based on experience, whereas Google can only show you things like websites, degrees, and statistics.
Mistake 3: Hiring Someone With No Basic Answers
Just because a lawyer graduated from Harvard or Yale does not mean he or she is the best family law attorney for you. For example, your lawyer may have recently transitioned from corporate or criminal law and still be familiarizing himself with what divorce attorneys do. Therefore, he may not know the answers to questions such as how do you handle property divisions, or how many divorce cases has this firm settled. If the attorney can't answer your questions satisfactorily, you should move on.
Mistake 4: Hiring Someone Who Makes You Uncomfortable
Divorce attorneys become long-term fixtures in their clients' lives. Your family law attorney will be no different, so feeling comfortable around him or her is vital to a good case. Watch a prospective attorney's body language and tone of voice. Is his tone too cold? Is her body language closed (crossed arms, clenched hands, and so on)? Does the attorney seem reluctant to learn specifics about your case? If yes, you should keep looking.
No comments:
Post a Comment