What You Need To Consider When Hiring A Divorce Attorney
For better or worse are the vows that many couples make to each other when entering the union of marriage. While marriage is meant to be heaven on earth till death do us part, it does, at times turn sour and can become unbearable if you don’t see eye to eye on raising children, managing money, or other things. Most couples at this point in their lives opt for divorce to end the nightmare that their marriage has become. You may be at a similar state in your life and are contemplating to file for divorce. If that’s the case then you’ll need to hire an attorney to handle the divorce case process for you.
Here is what you need to consider when hiring a divorce attorney:
The Cost Involved
A divorce process isn’t cheap and hiring a divorce lawyer to handle your case isn’t cheap either. This, however, doesn’t mean that you should break the bank in order to hire one. It simply means that you should hire an attorney that you can afford. This then calls for you to ask a few questions regarding the costs involved before hiring.
A few questions to ask is whether the attorney charges consultation fees, how much it will cost for court representation, whether you’ll be required to pay a retainer fee, and so on.
Go for a divorce attorney that you can afford and ensure that you are fully conversant with all the fees involved to avoid unpleasant surprises in future when you’re handed a bill that’s too big for you to pay.
The Attorney’s Reputation
A divorce case is extremely sensitive in nature. You want to hire an attorney that has a clean slate, one that will not frustrate you when you need him or her most. It’s important then that you run a background check on the attorney to get a glimpse of who he or she really is and to evaluate their reputation.
Start off by checking with the local or state bar association to find out whether the attorney is certified to practice, whether his or her law firm is registered and licensed, whether the attorney has any past criminal record, and whether there is a trail of complaints from previous clients filed against him or her.
Get to understand the reputation of the attorney before hiring him to save yourself unnecessary future frustration.
Determine The Kind Of Divorce Case You Have
Divorce cases are not all the same. They vary and each is handled uniquely. You need to first ascertain what kind of divorce case you have. Is it a collaborative divorce case, an arbitration, litigation, a mediation, or a summary divorce? Find out first what kind it is and then hire an attorney that is well versed with your kind of case.
It’s also important that you find out from the divorce attorney whether he or she has ever dealt with a case similar to yours before hiring. He should be experienced enough to handle everything that is tossed your way during the whole divorce case process.
Conclusion
These three pointers will help you hire the right divorce attorney. The search now begins. It may be a bit tedious searching through the internet and talking to people all the while trying to identify the most ideal lawyer to work with. But there are reputable lawyers in virtually every city and town. So you can find a top rated divorce lawyer in NJ or any other place you may be. It may be a few months to get through the process, but there’s relief from toxic relationships readily available!
