Whether or not you will come out of your divorce with everything you need depends a great deal on the attorney you choose. A good divorce attorney not only gives you the legal advice you need to make decisions but also supports you through every step of the process. Here are a few things to consider if you have found yourself searching “divorce attorney near me” and wondering how to decide among the many options.
How To Choose the Right Divorce Attorney Near Me
Research Attorneys
It all starts with quality research, and there are several avenues you can consider to find a potential lawyer. Personal recommendations can be helpful, but remember that these days you don’t necessarily have to have a family member or friend to give a personal recommendation. With the advent of the Internet, it’s fairly easy to find the necessary recommendations that can allow you to evaluate how responsive, empathetic, and professional an attorney is.
When you have found some recommended attorneys that people report having a good experience with, check up on their credentials with the State Bar Association and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. This will allow you to determine if the lawyer has the proper credentials to take your case and is in good standing in his or her profession.
Identify Your Goals and Needs
Think through what your objectives are in this divorce. If it’s a high-asset divorce or there are contentious issues about child support or spousal support, you want to be sure that your attorney has a good record of success dealing with especially complicated cases.
If your spouse is combative, and there’s a high likelihood this is going to court, be sure to choose an attorney who has lots of courtroom experience. At the same time, if you and your spouse are on pretty good terms and want the divorce to go as quickly and smoothly as possible, look for a lawyer who also has experience in negotiations and helping divorced couples reach agreements on parenting plans and other details.
Check the Website
Any good lawyer these days is going to have a website, and just checking this out and tell you a lot. It should be transparent and include all the information that you need to know, such as the names and qualifications of every lawyer working at the firm and testimonials and track records for all the lawyers and for the firm generally.
You also want to see that the website has lots of helpful information on the details of divorce, your options for legal separation, what to expect, and some of the laws you need to know about here in California. Look for a frequently asked questions section as well as a section giving you some basic advice on how to prepare for the different aspects of a divorce. This shows you that the lawyer and the firm are not just out to make money but actually care about the process and everything their clients are going through.
Just be aware that you should not expect promises on a website about costs. It’s impossible to say how much any case will cost without knowing the details about where you are in the process, how complicated it is, etc. No good lawyer will make promises about without a personal consultation.
Set Up a Consultation
Most divorce attorneys with a good track record and plenty of experience are happy to offer a free initial consultation. They value your time as well as their own and want to make sure that they fully understand your case, and you have a chance to evaluate them. This is a great way to talk with an attorney and get specifics that will help you make a good decision about whether they’re a fit for you. Here are some questions to consider asking:
How Much Experience Do You Have With Cases Like Mine?
It makes a difference when your attorney has years of experience, not just generally practicing law but specifically in the California family law courts. Experience also means that an attorney is familiar with the courts and judges, all the procedures and requirements, and even the other divorce attorneys that they may be working with if your ex-spouse also has a lawyer.
All of that knowledge can work in your favor, whether you’re negotiating or have to go to court. It also matters that the attorney have some experience with cases very similar to yours, whether that’s a high asset divorce or there’s some other important specific, such as an adopted child or a family business that needs to be divided.
How Will You Communicate With Me?
It’s important to know going in what you should expect and whether your attorney’s views on communication are going to be a good fit for you. First, who will you be talking to when you call, and who will be assigned to your case? A good law firm will have an array of paralegals and other professionals who often do a lot of the communication to free up the lawyers to deal with complicated legal matters that only they can take care of. That’s fine, but you should still know who you’re going to be talking to and about how often you can expect to reach them.
What Do You Think I Should Expect in My Case?
A good divorce attorney with lots of experience will have an idea of what you should expect, and a good attorney will not mislead you or promise things that are unlikely to happen. Look for an attorney who tells you honestly what your chances are of getting everything you’re hoping for out of this divorce and who can tell you some of the potential roadblocks they foresee.
What Is Your Case Load Like?
If an attorney is too busy, they may not be able to give you the personal attention that you need to get the best outcome for your case. On the other hand, if an attorney is not very busy, this suggests that they aren’t very good and are not in demand!
You should expect your attorney to have other cases going and understand that you are not their only client. At the same time, you want some assurance that your case will not be forgotten or “dropped behind the desk” so to speak.
Things to Notice:
In addition to asking questions, be sure to watch for some things in your attorney. It’s going to be vital to your case that you communicate well with your divorce lawyer, so pay attention to how well they do during the initial consultation. Are they listening to you? Can they answer your questions clearly?
Another thing to look for is simply your gut feeling. You need to be able to work with this person through one of the most personal processes you’re ever going to go through. You must feel comfortable talking to the attorney and feel that you can trust them with all the difficult personal details that have to be dealt with in a divorce situation.
If you’re facing a divorce, set up a free consultation with us at The Law Office of Kevin Lemieux, APC in San Diego today.
