Tips You Must Know for Finding the Best Divorce Lawyers

Finding the best divorce lawyers in your area can seem overwhelming. You can find plenty of lawyers with fancy websites touting their skills. But how do you know which one to choose?

Finding the right divorce attorney for you makes the process easier. It also increases the chances of you getting the outcome you want for custody, financial support, property division, and other decisions in the divorce.

Research before you make your decision is key to finding the best legal counsel for your situation.

Use these tips to learn more and choose the best divorce attorney for your case.

Get Recommendations

With roughly 40 to 50% of marriages resulting in divorce, chances are high that you know at least one person who's been through one recently. Use that experience to your advantage to find recommendations for local divorce attorneys.

The process starts with thorough research and getting recommendations from trusted sources. Consider asking friends, family, or colleagues who have been through a divorce for their experiences and recommendations. Personal referrals can provide valuable insight into the overall experience with a particular law firm such as Freedom Family Law, and will help you to gauge if they are the right fit for you. Additionally, online reviews and testimonials can offer further insight into an attorney's reputation and track record.

When reaching out to potential attorneys, don't hesitate to ask specific questions about their approach to divorce cases and their fee structure. It's also beneficial to inquire if those who have used their services would choose the same attorney if they had to go through the process again. Gathering this information will assist you in making an informed decision and selecting the best divorce attorney for your needs. 

Choose a Family Law Attorney

If you're not familiar with lawyers and legal issues, you might not realize that they tend to specialize in certain types of law. Some lawyers handle mainly criminal defense. Others might handle business law, immigration law, or bankruptcies.

When you're getting divorced, you want a lawyer who works in family law. Some attorneys work in a few different areas. They might handle family law and personal injury cases, for example.

When choosing divorce lawyers, make sure they regularly work in family law. If they're used to handling commercial real estate cases, they won't have the family law experience necessary to handle your case effectively. That said, when it comes to hiring a professional with plenty of experience after handling a variety of family cases, things might not seem that simple. However, it is way too early to give up on your chances of getting the service you're looking for. Feel free to start reaching out to different law firms to get your questions answered. That said, you can contact https://cantorlawgroup.com; a great place to get things in motion.

Look at Specific Experience

Once you know an attorney works primarily in family law, look at specific divorce experience the attorney has. Ask how many divorce cases the attorney typically handles per year to make sure they work on those types of cases regularly.

If you have special circumstances surrounding your divorce, ask about experience with similar cases. This might include a military divorce, which has to take into consideration deployments and new assigned posts when deciding on custody issues. 

A high net worth divorce can be complicated. It can also be difficult if you own a business and are going through a divorce.

Choosing a divorce attorney with previous success in similar divorce cases might help your chances of having a positive outcome.

It's also important to choose someone who has both negotiation skills and in-court experience. 

Many divorces are resolved out of court through various types of negotiations. You want someone who can represent you well in those negotiations.

But sometimes a difficult contested divorce ends up in court. Having a lawyer with experience in divorce cases that go to court ensures you're represented well during litigation.

Consider Location

Some legal firms practice in many jurisdictions. They might represent people across the state or have locations in multiple states.

It's best to choose an attorney with local experience. Not only is it easier to communicate with lawyers if they're local, but they also know the local court systems well.

All courts operate using the same laws in your state. However, judges and officials have different personalities and different tendencies when deciding on cases.

If your attorney is familiar with the local courts, they're better able to anticipate what might happen and how the judge might rule. This helps them plan your case.

It can also help to have an attorney with a good rapport with local judges.

Meet Lawyers in Person

You can usually get an idea of each lawyer's style and approach to divorce cases by visiting websites. But it's also a good idea to meet in person.

Divorce lawyers usually offer free initial consultations. This allows you to ask questions specific to your case and about the attorney's approach.

It's also your chance to check out each attorney's temperament. You'll be working with this person for several months in most cases to resolve your divorce issues. Make sure you can deal with the attorney's temperament and approach to interactions.

Consider the Attorney's Philosophy on Divorce

Consider the attorney's approach to divorce. Do they push to take all cases to court or do they try settling first?

Many divorce attorneys take a collaborative law approach or use mediation to settle divorce issues without going to court. This method is often less stressful, faster, and cheaper since you avoid lengthy court battles.

Divorce is often different than other areas of law. Going into a case with a very aggressive approach can make an already emotional situation even more difficult. It's especially difficult for kids.

If you're facing a challenging divorce with a spouse who will fight you on everything, you might need a more aggressive attorney. But in many cases, a lawyer who can keep a level head and focuses on a positive outcome for everyone, especially the kids, is best.

Understand the Agreement and Costs

Some divorce attorneys charge flat fees if the divorce is uncontested and straightforward.

But most attorneys charge an hourly rate with a retainer due upfront. Since each divorce is different, it's difficult to anticipate how much time and work will go into your case. 

Before choosing your attorney, make sure you understand how the lawyer charges for services. Verify the hourly rate and how much you have to pay for the retainer fee. Understand how the billing works for hours beyond what's covered by the retainer.

Ask about any additional fees. If your attorney has to hire specialists, such as private investigators or psychologists, this might come at an additional fee to you.

Find the Best Divorce Lawyers

Comparing the best divorce lawyers in your area helps you find legal counsel that will represent you well. By doing your research, you find a lawyer you feel comfortable with and who can help you get the results you want. 

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