So how exactly do you hire the ‘right’ lawyer? It is kind of like finding Mr. or Mrs. Right. Some time and effort needs to be put into the search!
As a divorce coach, clients often report that when faced with a separation and divorce, they immediately rush out and quickly hire a lawyer without much forethought. Hiring the wrong lawyer can be a costly mistake that can impact the entire process of separation and divorce from start to finish.
If you want to be in charge of your life during the business of divorce, you have to take charge and know that you and your ex-partner are the ultimate decision makers. Hiring professionals that align with your values and agree with your goals is very important.
You are hiring a lawyer to do some work for you. You need to decide what is important to you. Then you need to research some lawyers and ask around for recommendations. Then you need to interview at least three lawyers to find someone who is a good fit for you. Then, and only then, you put down your hard earned money and start the legal part of your separation and divorce.
Setting up interviews with three lawyers may seem like big investment of your valuable time, but if your case gets complicated, it will pay dividends. Hiring multiple lawyers in rapid succession is a much larger waste of your time and money. Yes, I know, early in a separation lots of things are already competing for both your time and money, but this investment of your time at the start of your divorce is well worth it.
What do you need to ask and find out? The following questions may be useful to ask:
- How long have they been practicing family law?
- What percentage of their practice is family law?
- Do they practice collaborative law?
- Are they willing to go to court, on your behalf, if they need to?
- What are the fees and how are they calculated?
- How much does it cost for their average divorce and how long does it usually take?
- What is the best way to reach them in an emergency?
- What are the costs and turnaround times for phone calls, email and appointments? Clarify before you get an unexpected costly invoice!
- What can you do to minimize your legal costs?
- How can either party terminate a client/attorney relationship that is not working well?
- Do they personally do all the work or do they work as part of a legal team?
Remember:
- Your lawyer is not your therapist. Lawyers often charge by the hour, so give them a short honest outline of your situation, not the long emotional version.
- Be honest! If you tell the lawyer the sugarcoated version of your situation you will not get advice for the true situation. You will get the sugarcoated advice, which will not be as useful as honest feedback and basic advice.
- To minimize your legal fees, give the lawyers the documents they ask for when they ask for them. Making them get access to them may dramatically add to your costs.
- Being reasonable and fair goes a long way in getting a reasonable and fair separation agreement and divorce. Most lawyers prefer not to clean up after bad behaviour.
- Once the legal business of divorce is initiated, it usually makes communication with your ex-partner more difficult, not better, so try and maintain good communication if it exists. This is especially important if you have children and are co-parenting. If you can continue to talk together instead of having the lawyers start sending letters back and forth things may stay more civil.
- You also need to remember you get to make the decisions. The lawyer gives legal advice and suggests how to proceed, but you and your ex together are the decision makers. It is best to keep your family decisions between you. If you go to court, a judge will be making the decisions. You and your ex-spouse will give up any control over the decisions made that will affect your family and life for years to come.
- Is it actually time to hire a lawyer? I usually suggest other qualified divorce professionals talk with you before you hire a lawyer to get things organized and analyzed to take to the lawyer. This is especially true if you are still in the early stages and can go with your ex-partner together for an overview of your situation as a couple entering the divorce process if you are still getting along reasonably well.
Having trouble managing your separation and divorce? I can help.
Please contact me.
I do offer a free strategy session.
Best regards,
Pam
Pam Mirehouse
The Divorce Coach in Dundas
Image © designer491 / depositphotos
I wish I’d had access to this type of information back when I needed it!
The thing that struck me in this article was “the business of divorce”. If you can think of this event as a business deal and put into action all the good hiring and decision making skills you use in any other business situation it would be much easier. Oh to be able to separate out our emotions while doing business. A good thought for any business dealings.
That is probably the biggest problem dealing with a divorce. Decisions fuelled by emotions are not always the best long term! It is very hard to look at things like a business deal but you really have to try and remain logical!
Finding the right lawyer is like finding true friend,very rare. I must admit that so think wisely!
So true Brian! It is so important to your outcome to invest the time on finding the best fit!
Hii Pam Mirehouse,
What divorce lawyers say and what they do can be very different outcomes. Although their intentions may be pure the cases can be quite complicated. Nonetheless, it is always better to have a dedicated and experienced divorce lawyer in your corner if you find yourself going through the divorce process.
Regards,
Thomas Wyckoff
Legal matters are a big deal and must always be handled by professionals with high knowledge on the matter.
I absolutely agree. Always get sound legal advice. Decisions made should not be made lightly or with just advice from friends and family during a marriage break up. The decisions made during a divorce or while negotiating your separation agreement will affect the rest of your life! Make the right decision for you and your family!
Regarding your legal concerns and questions, always ask the best of legal firms.
This is very important info for all of them for doing this work with better if you hire a bogus lawyer you will lose more money. You have to know how to hire the right lawyer for your separation and divorce. I hope that will be very important to me as well. I am very much happy for that.
The best lawyers in your city can carry out task faster and more efficient with the best results in your favor.
Nice Post…. @…..!
Hiring a lawyer is not an easy task, either we hire property lawyer, child custody lawyer or any other type of lawyer. Because our whole case result depends upon the selection of the right lawyer. A right lawyer is as good friends who understand our problem and try to provide the justice. But the process of selection of right lawyer is very responsible work. Your article discussed all those key point which we need to keep in mind before hiring a writer lawyer. Thanks for sharing such a informative knowledge.
I will wait for your next post…….. …….!
All the best……………………………………!
Legal assistance from the best professionals is always the best option for your needs on legal terms.
In regards with legal advice and other legal processes, it’s always better to seek the help of the best professionals.
To be the best in your field. You need to have the training and best course available
Finding the right lawyer is important to make sure you can keep in touch with your children. Thanks for writing!
Thank you Aaron! It really can make a big difference!
A good lawyer will help you in every way you need that will assure you of good outcome.
Only the best and brightest for your legal needs for the best assurance of your needs.
The best lawyers in your city can carry out task faster and more efficient with the best results in your favor.
Legal assistance from the best professionals is always the best option for your needs on legal terms.
I love that you said lawyers are not your therapists.
🙂
I appreciate your post, a good lawyer will help you in every way you need that will assure you of good outcome. Thanks For sharing.
This is one of the great article about hire right Divorced lawer, before divorced it is very important to find the right diorced lawer, So I think it is informative and helpful post the people. Thanks for sharing this awesome article.
We are law agency, so we are committed to Divorce Resolution through high-quality client care.
Thanks for discussing about hiring a best lawyer for divorced Resolution. Definitely some great tips and advice to keep in mind when going through this experience. Hiring a mediator can be a good option, but sometimes the best is hiring a lawyer to make sure everything is being handled in the best legal fashion. So I think it’s useful for many those who are looking for such info, I really appreciate you, keep it up.!
Thank you, Zara! I appreciate the comment and yes – lawyers are not the only professionals that can help with a successful separation and divorce!
Don’t settle for cheap lawyers if you can afford to get a good one. It is smart to get the best if you need to.
Good lawyers attend continuing education and special training programs, which help them stay abreast of developments in their area of law, participate in various discussion panels, and write articles and books
Finding the right lawyer is tough but once you get a good lawyer all your you can get rid off your legal problems.
Excellent content thanks for sharing!
Great tips. This article gives good information about Family law. Thanks for sharing this information.
Thank you!
A lawyer should also be sensitive enough to go for settlement when there is a possibility of patch up.
Great tips. This article gives good information about divorce. Thanks for sharing this information.
Thank you! Hiring the right lawyer makes such a big difference!
Divorce and separation are very sensitive matters. one must hire an attorney as per the article nice tips.
A professional advice is important to take important decision. A professional lawyer is necessary for a good decision
Hey Pam,
Very Informative Article! Thanks for sharing basic information to find the right lawyer for separation or divorce.
Glad you like the article!
It is very important to find a right lawyer before taking a step in getting a divorce and attorney should also make their clients feel comfortable so that people can share their problems related the case.