Filing for divorce can be quite a stress for both partners, especially if you have been in a relationship for quite a long time. Memories of those lovely times that you two have had before things went sour come flooding back and it becomes really difficult to hold yourself together. Naturally, most people just want to hurry through the divorce process so that they can get some relief from the emotional pain that keeps surging with every passing day.
As such, the choice of a divorce lawyer, in most cases, is done without much of a thought. People tend to hire just about any lawyer who promises a swift course of action and charges reasonably. But decisions, when taken in a hurry, can lead to disasters. A wrong choice of a divorce attorney can end you up in more pain, not to mention the loss of time and money. So, it to be prudent that you try to keep a clear head while deciding on your divorce lawyer and be spared of the horrors.
Factors to consider before you choose a divorce lawyer
Knowledge- Anyone who practices law is a lawyer, but that doesn’t qualify him/her to be a divorce lawyer. So, when you are looking for a divorce attorney, you have to specifically look for a lawyer who specializes and practices family law, more particular divorce laws. This would ensure that the lawyer has broad knowledge in the domain of divorce law and can handle your case quite efficiently.
Experience – Knowledge of divorce laws isn’t enough. A good divorce attorney would one who not only has knowledge in the domain but experience as well. An experienced lawyer will be able to successfully handle even the most complicated divorce cases and help you get the proper judgment and other benefits like alimony, child jurisdiction, etc. He/she will be your friend and guide throughout the entire procedure.
Reliability – Another important factor that you must consider before hiring your attorney is how reliable he/she actually is. A lawyer may be knowledgeable and experienced as well, but he/she may not always be the right choice for you. It has often been seen that popular divorce attorneys who are in high demand often tend to neglect very simple cases where they have very less profits and hand over such cases to a junior or assistant or procrastinate the case until he/she is ‘free’. This can be quite a headache for you. So, it would be wise to choose someone who is actually interested in fighting your case promptly.
Communication – Your divorce attorney isn’t just another lawyer in the courtroom. He/she should be your guide and help you understand every single step of the divorce procedure very clearly. The lawyer must be able to communicate with you in simple layman terms and make you understand what you are going to face, what you need to do, how you should take care of your personal affairs till the divorce is granted and much more. Naturally, a lawyer who is haughty or uncommunicative isn’t going to do you any good. You will never be at ease unless you clearly understand that your case is proceeding in the right direction.
Testimonies – The number of frauds and gimmicks in the legal world is huge and to ensure that you aren’t ripped off or scammed, it would also be wise to check on the personal testimonies of real people who have opted for a particular lawyer’s services at some point in time. If their testimonies speak highly of the divorce lawyer that you have zeroed in on, then you can easily proceed with your decision.
