It’s something no one ever wants to go through—a difficult divorce.
Often, both parties don’t agree on the outcomes of the divorce, especially when it comes to finances. When this happens, the divorce will need to be worked out in court.
If your divorce is going to court, you need to know how to find a good divorce lawyer who can represent you.
However, not all divorce lawyers are created equal, so you need to be sure you find the right person for your needs. To learn more, keep reading to find seven qualities you’ll want to look for when hiring a divorce lawyer.
- How to Find a Good Divorce Lawyer? First, Look for Someone Experienced
If you’re wondering what to look for in a divorce attorney, one of the first things to look for is experience. Divorce law can be complex, with every case being slightly different.
You’ll need a divorce lawyer who has plenty of experience and has tried enough cases over the years to know exactly what they need to do for you to win. Experienced lawyers give you the best chance of winning your case.
- Consider Your Budget
Divorce lawyers can be expensive, however, the good news is that there are plenty of talented lawyers even for lower budgets.
When it comes to divorce, the average cost in the US is around $15,000 per person. A big chunk of this often goes to legal fees.
Before you start contacting lawyers, work out how much you can comfortably afford to spend. While divorce is a big expense, you don’t want it to leave you at a financial disadvantage, so find an attorney you can afford.
- Honesty
Another key quality to look for in a lawyer is honesty. Not all lawyers are the most ethical of people, so you want to find someone who is.
A good lawyer should be honest, trustworthy, and someone you feel like you can trust to do the right thing. Your lawyer is representing you in court, so you need to be sure you trust them to advocate on your behalf.
It can be hard to know instantly if someone appears honest or not, but sometimes you just need to trust your instinct. Trust your gut and ask yourself whether or not you feel like you can work with this person and trust them with your important case.
- Availability
When choosing a divorce lawyer, you’ll want to ask them about their availability. Many lawyers are extremely busy and may not have time to start work on your case until months from now.
Are you willing to wait, or are you ready to finalize your divorce as soon as possible? That’s up to you to decide, but always ask a potential about when they next have availability.
If they are fully booked, however, they may be able to recommend another lawyer they know that could help you out.
- Positive Reputation
When you’re a lawyer, reputation is everything. Often, lawyers attract new clients via word of mouth, with previous clients recommended them to their friends and family.
While most lawyers work hard to develop a good reputation, you should still put in the effort to learn more about their background to make sure they’re right for you.
You’ll notice that most law firms have testimonials on their website, but anyone can make up positive reviews. You should also look at unbiased sources, such as review websites, to see more feedback from previous clients.
While no lawyer or business is going to have 100% perfect reviews, you’ll want to make sure that most of their feedback is positive.
When it comes to their reputation in the courtroom, you can also look up their case record to see how many divorce cases they’ve won and lost over the years.
- Good Communication
Divorce lawyers should be strong communicators. Divorce proceedings can be lengthy, with lots of stressful waiting periods.
To ease some of the stress, make sure that your lawyer is good at communicating. You don’t want to be waiting hours or days to hear important news from your lawyer about the case—instead, look for someone prompt and courteous with their replies.
You’ll want to know who your primary point of contact will be within the law firm, along with what the expected frequency will be of your communications.
- Confidence
A skilled divorce lawyer needs another key quality—confidence. A confident lawyer knows that they are good at what they do and will stand up for themselves (and for you) in the courtroom.
However, there’s a fine line between confidence and conceit, so try to avoid divorce lawyers who seem too cocky or egotistical.
Find the Best Divorce Lawyer With These Tips
Divorce can be one of the toughest times of your life, but finding the right lawyer can help. Now that you know how to find a good divorce lawyer, use the tips above to start researching qualified divorce lawyers in your area.
The right lawyer can help you navigate through the divorce process and ensure that you receive your fair share in the settlement. From property to the custody of the children, there are plenty of important reasons to work with a divorce lawyer.
Get started today and you’ll soon find the perfect divorce lawyer for your case.
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