how do you find a good divorce attorney seattle

How to Find a Good Divorce Lawyer As with many other services, finding a good divorce lawyer can start with referrals from friends or family. In addition, other professionals, such as accountants or financial advisors, may offer recommendations.

Full Answer

How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Seattle?

The average cost of attorneys fees is $11,300, while the median is $7,000. The average hourly rate for a divorce lawyer is $270. Hourly rates vary, too, among divorce and family lawyers, with some charging higher hourly rates for more complicated divorces.

Is it better to get a local divorce attorney?

A local attorney is the best choice because they will give you great legal advice for this particular jurisdiction and court system with direct knowledge of local laws and customs.

How do I find a lawyer in Seattle?

Finding a LawyerNorthwest Justice Project. nwjustice.org. (206) 464-1519.Neighborhood Legal Clinics. www.kcba.org/pbs/NLC.aspx. ... Lawyer Referral Service. www.kcba.org/For-the-Public/Hire-a-Lawyer. ... Legal Voice (formerly Northwest Women's Law Center) www.legalvoice.org. ... Northwest Justice Project. nwjustice.org.

How do I choose a solicitor for divorce?

Here are my tips for what to look for when choosing a divorce lawyer:Choose a specialist. A solicitor who mixes divorce in with other types of work may not have the same level of expertise as one who only deals with family law. ... Find someone who is good in and out of Court. ... Experience. ... Meet them.

What should I ask for in a divorce?

What Should I Ask for in a Divorce Settlement?Your Marital Home. Think about what you want from your marital home. ... A Fair Share of Assets. ... Retirement and Investment Accounts. ... Fair Debt Division. ... Parenting Time. ... Child Support and Alimony. ... Your Child's Future Needs. ... Take the First Step with Coumanis & York.

What do divorce lawyers do?

A divorce lawyer protects the rights of their client, along with handling the related custody and financial aspects of the divorce. Importantly, a divorce lawyer will also explain the law and your available legal options. The attorney should review your situation and its related documents.

How can I get free legal advice in Washington state?

Free legal advice Contact the Coordinated Legal Education, Advice, and Referral - CLEAR. CL EAR is Northwest Justice Project's toll-free telephone service for eligible low-income people to obtain free legal assistance with civil legal problems. Call toll-free at 1-888-201-1014 - if you are under 60 and low-income.

What is an attorney vs lawyer?

However, when practising law, lawyers can only provide legal assistance, advice, and counselling to their clients while an attorney can represent clients in court and initiate defendant prosecutions in addition to providing legal counsel and consultation.

What does the Seattle city attorney do?

The Seattle City Attorney is a non-partisan elected official in Seattle, Washington whose job is to "prosecute people for misdemeanor offenses, defend the city against lawsuits, and gives legal advice to the city". Since 2022, the position has been held by Ann Davison.

What is the rule of divorce?

When the couples agree to a divorce, the courts will consider a divorce with mutual consent as per. Section 10A of Indian Divorce Act, 1869, requires the couple to be separated for at least two years, the couple only needs to provide that they have not been living as husband and wife during this period.

How do you get through a divorce?

Coping With Separation And DivorceRecognize that it's OK to have different feelings. ... Give yourself a break. ... Don't go through this alone. ... Take care of yourself emotionally and physically. ... Avoid power struggles and arguments with your spouse or former spouse. ... Take time to explore your interests. ... Think positively.More items...

Do you need two solicitors for a divorce?

Does my husband/wife have to have a solicitor when we divorce if I have one? The short answer to this question is no. Your solicitor cannot however legally advise your spouse and will regularly remind your spouse in correspondence of their right to receive their own independent legal advice.

Should I hire a local lawyer?

Local lawyers can more effectively judge the value of your case or the likelihood of success. A local attorney knows and can fairly judge the temperament in the community and the likelihood of a fair and reasonable verdict being returned in your particular matter.

How much does it cost to divorce in Florida?

According to the 2020 study, the average divorce in Florida costs $13,500, including $11,600 in attorneys' fees. Attorneys' fees make up a large portion of the cost of divorce because the average hourly rate for attorneys in Florida is $295.

What is the most common child custody agreement?

Joint custody, where both parents have custody of all children involved, is preferred and is the most common arrangement, if conditions allow.

Does your lawyer have to be local?

In all honesty, in 95% of the cases, the location of the attorney doesn't matter. We don't live in the 1800's anymore where people had to hire an in town attorney, as there were no other options. In today's legal market, it's the lawyer that matters, not where they are.

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How long does it take to get divorced?

To file for divorce, you will usually need to have resided in your state and county for at least 6 months to 1 year. It does not matter where the marriage took place. Next, you’ll need to obtain all the required divorce forms, found on your state’s website or the applicable court’s office of the clerk.

What happens when you get separated legally?

In legal separation a couple lives apart but is still legally married. Like in divorce, with legal separation, you’ll need to negotiate property division, child custody, child support issues, and spousal support. There are personal and financial benefits to consider when determining which route is right for you.

Should I get a divorce?

Since divorce dissolves a marriage, you'll need to consider how you and your spouse intend to divide up your joint assets (property division), child custody arrangement (if you have kids), and potential spousal support (alimony).

Talk to a Seattle Family Lawyer Sooner Rather Than Later

When is the right time to hire a divorce lawyer? Is it too early…could it be too late?

The Small Firm Difference

Unlike some other areas of the law, many of the best divorce attorneys work in small offices or even in solo practices. During something so personal as a divorce you want to find the Seattle family law attorney that is the right fit for you.

What Should I Expect When I First Meet with a Seattle Family Lawyer at Your Firm?

The initial consultation is mainly to get to know each other. We want to find out a bit about you and your situation, and you can get a sense of whether the attorney seems like a good fit. We typically also give you some basic information about how divorce works and what some of your options may be.

Why Do You Charge for Your First Meeting?

Any reputable lawyer that is looking out for your best interests will allow you to contact them to see if they are the right fit for you, your situation, and your goals. A top-notch firm will be interviewing you while you are interviewing them.

We Pride Ourselves on Being a Cost-Effective Family Law Firm

Trials can be expensive, drawn out, difficult affairs. It is true that sometimes you have to go all the way to trial, but a good Seattle family lawyer will do everything in their power to keep you out of court.

Who Will I be Interacting with at Your Firm?

At Seattle Divorce Services your Seattle family lawyer should be your primary point of contact. We do have a paralegal you can talk to when your attorney is unavailable, and who may contact you at times about specific tasks, but your lawyer is managing the case and needs to communicate with you directly about most issues that may come up.

Questions to Ask Your Seattle Family Law Attorney

One very important thing when hiring an attorney is deciding whether they are a good fit for you. Every attorney is different and every client is different. No matter how good the attorney is, they may or may not be a good fit for you.

What are some good websites to check on divorce lawyers?

Online information portals, such as Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo, and Lawyers.com offer client and peer attorney reviews. Another good source is an association of attorneys focused on divorce and family law that often provides search portals for members, resources, and information you can use to educate yourself about legal issues around divorce. You can also use these sites to check the names of attorneys who have been recommended to you.

How much does a divorce attorney cost?

The total average costs of a divorce can range from $7,000 to $28,000, with divorce attorneys charging an average of $270 an hour. In a 2019 study by Martindale-Nolo Research, attorney fees for divorces lasting less than six months clocked in, on average, at $6,500; those lasting more than 30 months came in at $23,000. Typically, divorce lawyers are paid via a retainer, which requires clients to pay in advance for their services. On average, the startup fees ranged from $2,000 to $5,000. 5

What Does a Divorce Lawyer Do?

A divorce lawyer protects the rights of their client, along with handling the related custody and financial aspects of the divorce. Importantly, a divorce lawyer will also explain the law and your available legal options.

What Is the Average Cost of Divorce?

The average cost of divorce in the United States is $12,900. The average hourly rate is $270, as data from Martindale-Nolo shows. Typically, clients pay an upfront retainer fee, which averages $2,000 to $5,000. 5

Why do people hire divorce lawyers?

First, divorce lawyers are skilled at presenting a case to a judge, seeing the big picture, and finding the best deal for their clients. Secondly, divorce lawyers can offer options people may have not realized were available. They may anticipate the outcome, suggest settlement options, and put together a settlement proposal as a result of their experience with similar cases.

What is divorce arbitration?

Divorce arbitration is another form of resolving disputes in divorce negotiations without going to court, and it can also be speedier. It differs from mediation in that both parties present their case before an arbitrator whom they select, and the arbitrator makes a decision on how to handle their case. The arbitrator is often a lawyer or retired judge. It's important to note, however, that most often, the decision of the arbitrator cannot be appealed.

How much does it cost to get divorced?

Because the costs of getting a divorce can range between $7,000 and $28,000, many Americans question how it's possible to pay for it. 5 Withdrawal from a 401 (k) is a permissible option if the funds are spent on the divorce. It is important to note, however, that automatic temporary restraining orders (ATROs) prevent individuals from drawing funds from their retirement accounts before a divorce to prevent the change in their financial status.

How to choose a good lawyer?

The best attorneys work hard, engender trust, and engage with the decision-maker rather than fighting with him/her. When searching for a lawyer, look at his/her credentials (which are often an indication of intelligence and work ethic) and the firm’s reviews (which, hopefully, reflect past results). Beyond that, the main focus should be whether the potential lawyer can connect with you. Obviously, you are not searching for a new best friend. But, you want to determine whether s/he is listening to you, will give you and your case the personal attention you deserve, and can connect with you and a decision-maker. While you want to hire an attorney who is businesslike, you do not want an attorney who is too jaded from having represented dozens of clients in family law proceedings and who is not interested in listening to you or who sees your case the same as every other case. If your attorney is not interested in listening to you and/or trying to understand why you are saying what you are, you may think that you did hire an “a#$hole” and not be pleased with your choice because that “a#$hole” in court is really just an “a#$hole” all of the time, including when you do not want him/her to be one.

What does a family law attorney do?

A family law attorney stands in front of a commissioner or judge and serves as the client’s mouthpiece. At some point during the proceedings, probably multiple points during the proceedings, your attorney will be asking the commissioner for something for you.

Do aggressive attorneys lose in court?

More significantly, the most aggressive attorneys are not always the champions. In fact, hyper-aggressive attorneys usually lose in court.

Do you want an attorney who is businesslike?

While you want to hire an attorney who is businesslike, you do not want an attorney who is too jaded from having represented dozens of clients in family law proceedings and who is not interested in listening to you or who sees your case the same as every other case.

Is there any other litigation as personal as divorce?

I understand why potential clients ask that question. No other litigation is as personal as a divorce (read, ‘dissolution’ in Washington). While other types of litigation, such as a breach of contract matter, may evoke anger in one or both litigants because one party feels betrayed by the other, no legal matter can cut to the core as does a dissolution proceeding. Similarly, in my opinion, no other litigation has as much at stake as a dissolution, especially when child custody is involved. A client does not have to explain to me why s/he wants to fight in a family law case. I understand.