How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer
Divorce can be messy. When you’re married to another person, you build a life together and when it ends in divorce, it can be complicated to divide your shared assets. If you have property or children involved, it is incredibly important to find an experienced divorce lawyer to help the process go as smoothly as possible. However, finding the right attorney can be a bit overwhelming, which is why we decided to put together some tips to help you navigate the search for a divorce lawyer.
Top Tips For Selecting a Family Law/Divorce Lawyer
Assess Your Situation Before Consulting a Divorce Lawyer.
If you and your spouse do not have your finances entangled and do not have children or shared assets, you might not need a divorce attorney. If both you and your spouse are cooperative and want to work together to end your marriage, mediation might be the best option for you. However, if you have children together or your finances and assets are intertwined with your spouse, it is in your best interest to find an experienced divorce attorney who knows how to handle dividing up your shared belongings. Divorce attorneys are much more qualified than mediators when it comes to splitting up assets.
Have Realistic Expectations With Your Current Spouse.
Divorce is a legal process where the sole purpose is to divide assets and resolve custody issues so both parties can move on. Your divorce attorney should focus on helping the process move smoothly and in a timely manner. Though it is tempting to reach out to your attorney to discuss the emotional aspects involved, keep in mind that they are not trained therapists even though they do have a lot of experience with divorce. Your attorney will always be on the clock and to save time and money, you and your divorce attorney should stay focused on the task at hand - dividing assets and resolving custody issues.
Set Your Family Law Budget.
Finding an attorney who can operate within your budget is incredibly important. In San Diego, there are plenty of options when it comes to divorce lawyers, but thankfully, the most expensive hourly rate doesn’t always mean they are the most qualified. Do some research to figure out how much money you have to allocate towards your divorce, then that will give you an idea of which lawyers you can work with.
Set up Goals Before Seeing a Divorce Attorney.
Make sure that you know what you want to get out of the divorce before you look into divorce attorneys. Obviously you want to end your marriage, but if there are any deal breakers for you, you need to figure those out first. You don’t want to waste time and money fighting over material things that are not important to you, so make sure you figure out what your goals are before meeting with a potential attorney. If it is important for you to get the divorce finalized quickly and smoothly, make sure you find an attorney who wants the same thing. Once you have your goals figured out, then you can start your search for a divorce lawyer.
Look Into Your Options as Part of the Process.
Start your search by looking up divorce lawyers in your area. It is incredibly important to find a local divorce attorney because they are the most familiar with the laws in your county and state. We recommend talking to trusted friends and family to find referrals and also looking at reviews for the attorneys you are considering. With so many online resources available, you should be able to quickly find out which law firms are more trusted than others. See our client reviews here.
Interview Your Top Attorneys.
Once you have narrowed your search down to your top 3-5 potential attorneys, it is time to set up a phone consultation with each of them. It is important that you get along with your divorce attorney and that your goals are aligned. You want to find an attorney who is specialized in family law and has experience in the specific type of divorce you are looking for. For example, if you are facing a custody battle, you want a lawyer who has plenty of experience dealing with custody cases. Your ideal attorney will not only have experience in the type of divorce you are looking to get, but they should also be personable and willing to listen to what you have to say. You want to find an attorney who gives you their full attention and makes suggestions based off your individual needs. You also want a lawyer who has your best interests in mind and makes sure you are well-informed throughout the process. Here are some important questions to ask during your consultation with a divorce lawyer.
Finally, the best lawyer for your divorce should be someone that you feel comfortable with. They should not only have plenty of experience with divorces like yours, but they should also be great at communicating, have a good track record and have positive feedback from previous clients. The right lawyer will be local, within your budget and have a similar philosophy on divorce as you do. You want someone who will keep you informed throughout the process and will keep your best interests in mind.
At Annis & Vercollone, we are Family Law Specialists, which means we are considered experts in our field of law. We have been certified by the State Bar and have taken and passed a day long written examination in our specialty field, demonstrated a very high level of courtroom experience in family law, and have been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with our work. We continue to fulfill ongoing educational requirements to maintain our certification, which keeps us well-informed on the newest laws and regulations. Read more about the benefits of choosing a Family Law Specialist for your divorce here.
If you have any questions about the divorce process or you would like to discuss your individual situation, let’s talk! Our free initial consultations are always confidential and we would love to help you move on easier.