what to look for in a divorce attorney

What to Look For In a Divorce Attorney

1. Experience. It is imperative that you settle for a lawyer who is well acquainted with family law and divorce proceedings.
2. Client Testimonials. A qualified family law attorney will have many successful cases they have handled in the past. ...
3. Litigation Success. ...
4. Clear Communication. ...
5. Candid Approach. ...

Full Answer

How do I find a good divorce attorney?

Aug 07, 2019 · Look for a lawyer who devotes at least half of his or her time to matrimonial law. How many contested divorce trials have you had during the past five years? Although a lawyer may otherwise be knowledgeable, he or she may have limited courtroom experience. How many contested custody cases are you currently handling?

What should be on your divorce attorney checklist?

It is vital to look for an attorney who has the ability to turn complicated divorce jargon into phrases you fully understand. Find someone who wants to help you feel empowered throughout each step of your divorce. A Divorce Attorney Is Not A Therapist. Remember, an attorney’s job is to legally represent you in the divorce process.

What do divorce lawyers not want you to know?

May 07, 2021 · One of the best resources for finding a great divorce lawyer is the people you already know. If any of your friends, family, or co-workers have recently divorced, ask them about their experiences with their attorney. Regardless of whether they had a good or bad divorce attorney, it can help you narrow down your search.

What are the different ways to get a divorce?

Dec 29, 2016 · 4 Things to Consider Before Hiring a Divorce Attorney 1. Experience and Specializations. At the top of your divorce attorney checklist should be finding an attorney who has... 2. Fee Structure. The fees of divorce attorneys can vary greatly as well as the way they charge. Some attorneys charge... 3. ...

What should a woman ask for in a divorce settlement?

What is fair to ask for in a divorce?

What are the four main issues in divorce?

Is a 60/40 divorce split?

1. Experience

It is imperative that you settle for a lawyer who is well acquainted with family law and divorce proceedings. An attorney who is familiar with the proceedings can provide the desired assistance better than one who merely dabbles in family law. You ought to do your research and learn how long the divorce attorney has been in family law.

2. Client Testimonials

A qualified family law attorney will have many successful cases they have handled in the past. You can utilize information from former clients to help you make an informed decision. It’s also advisable that you read through different online reviews to find the right divorce attorney. You can often request referrals from other lawyers.

3. Litigation Success

Divorce lawyers’ record of success in litigated divorce cases is an essential factor to consider. It would help if you learn how much time a divorce lawyer dedicates to litigation and how the litigation ends.

4. Clear Communication

Working with an attorney who is friendly, understanding, and matches well with your personality is vital. Most divorce lawyers communicate clearly, and in plain terms, you understand. The lawyer should be accessible to listen and respond to your queries promptly.

5. Candid Approach

You will want a divorce lawyer with a clear and understandable description of the rates and billing procedure. This information should be presented to you in writing and prior to the commencement of your representation. Ideally, you should hire divorce lawyers who can evaluate the situation honestly and accurately.

What can a lawyer do for divorce?

Your lawyer can also provide you with references from former clients who have consented to the release of their names. Often divorce cases require knowledge of other fields of law, such as real estate, bankruptcy, personal injury, criminal, commercial, estates, trusts, and tax law.

What to ask a lawyer during an interview?

During the interview, ask the lawyer what result could be reasonably obtained and what strategies could be implemented to achieve your goals.

Is divorce painful?

Depending upon your needs, you may give greater weight to some criteria and less weight to others. A divorce can be extremely stressful and painful. It can be a very difficult time for you and your children, relatives and friends.

How stressful is divorce?

A divorce can be extremely stressful and painful. It can be a very difficult time for you and your children, relatives and friends.

What is the best way to end a marriage?

Choosing the right attorney is one of your most important decisions when ending your marriage and successfully beginning the next phase of your life. The right matrimonial lawyer can help provide you with financial security; the wrong lawyer may lead to the loss of marital assets that are rightfully yours, or may even result in your losing custody ...

Ask Your Friends and Family

One of the best resources for finding a great divorce lawyer is the people you already know. If any of your friends, family, or co-workers have recently divorced, ask them about their experiences with their attorney.

What Do You Want From Your Lawyer?

It's important to know what type of lawyer you need to help you get through your divorce. Do you expect your divorce to be uncontested and fairly simple? Or will you and your soon-to-be-ex battle out your issues in court?

Read Online Reviews

Knowing which divorce attorneys in the area have the best reputation is crucial. Although you can easily search online for attorneys near you, it's important to have context. That's why reviews are so important.

Research Their Credentials

Did you know the State Bar of California's website allows you to look up attorneys? After you have a list of attorneys you are considering hiring, you can use this resource to make sure their license to practice law is current and see if there have been any disciplinary actions against them.

Schedule a Consultation

After you've narrowed the choices down to three or four divorce attorneys, call them to see if they offer consultations. Then schedule one with each of them to help you make your final decision. This gives you a chance to meet with your potential attorneys face-to-face so you can see if they are the right fit to handle your divorce.

Qualified Representation from Caring, Compassionate Divorce Lawyers in San Bernardino

At Law Office of Michael R. Young, we have over five decades of experience helping families through challenging times. With decades of combined experience, our San Bernardino divorce attorneys understand California laws surrounding complex family law matters.

1. Experience and Specializations

At the top of your divorce attorney checklist should be finding an attorney who has experience in family law and specializes in divorce cases similar to yours.

2. Fee Structure

The fees of divorce attorneys can vary greatly as well as the way they charge. Some attorneys charge by hourly rate, and many may ask for a retainer (an upfront fee to be paid in advance). Other divorce attorneys negotiate fees based on the anticipated settlement figure. It’s important to be realistic about what you can afford.

3. Reputation

You can find recommendations for divorce attorneys by utilizing your network. As well as asking family and friends and checking online reviews, you can also ask accountants, psychologists, and other lawyers. These professionals often work closely with divorce attorneys and are likely to know who is trustworthy.

4. Personal Compatibility

You need to feel comfortable with the attorney you hire, as you’ll need to share personal details of your life and marriage with this person throughout the divorce process. So, if you don’t feel comfortable opening up to this person, you should hire someone else.

Can a divorce lawyer help you?

Going through a divorce is a painful event, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Compassion, hard-working, experienced are some of the qualities of a divorce lawyer that can help you get what you want out of your marriage’s dissolution so that you can focus on beginning the rest of your life.

Why is it important to hire a divorce attorney?

Hiring a divorce attorney is often one of the first steps any person seeking a divorce will perform, and it is easily the most important, as their guiding hand can help make every subsequent step that much easier. Once you have planned to acquire an attorney’s services, your first big decision is which attorney to choose and why.

Is divorce painful?

Deciding to divorce your spouse could be one of the most stressful and painful moments in a person’s life. The strong emotions that often accompany it can make going through the often complex divorce process feel like an insurmountable weight has been placed on your chest.

What is the marriage.com course?

If you feel disconnected or frustrated about the state of your marriage but want to avoid separation and/or divorce, the marriage.com course meant for married couples is an excellent resource to help you overcome the most challenging aspects of being married.

How to choose a divorce attorney?

There are several things to look for when choosing a divorce attorney. You want to choose someone who is experienced, respected, competent, and affordable. If they are proving to not be a good fit though, change them. Because you can, even if the reason is that you don't get on with him or her. Bear in mind however that if an attorney has worked on your case, you'll have to pay her/him for their time. Also, it might damage your case to change attorney's when you are close to a court ordered deadline, so only do it after careful consideration.

Can a divorce lawyer tell you that you can come to a full agreement?

"Divorce lawyers won't tell you that you can come to a full agreement in your case at any time," says divorce attorney Russell D. Knight. Instead, they would prefer to engage in the lengthy process of "discovery"—tallying debts and assets—before drawing up the final documents.

What is fault based divorce?

Fault-based divorce is when one spouse committed an act that gives legal justification to the ending of the marriage. These acts include adultery, a felony conviction, cruelty, or desertion.

Do divorce lawyers charge by the hour?

Divorce lawyers often charge by the hour. If you take responsibility for being as organized as possible, not only are you likely to walk away from your marriage with a more acceptable outcome, you'll probably save some money too.

How to start a divorce?

One of the best and simplest ways to do that is to start a divorce file. In this file, keep every bit of paper that could have an effect on how your divorce proceedings. Gather copies of all important financial documents and access to all account information. Keep it organized and easy to navigate.

Is divorce law firm bigger than solo practice?

In any industry, the larger a company is, the bigger volume it's doing. Divorce law firms are no different, prompting many people to seek a solo practitioner who is more invested in the outcome of your case. Paradoxically, however, if the solo practitioner does not have adequate support staff in his or her office, your case may end up not getting the attention and care you were promised.

What does it mean to be uncontested in divorce?

An uncontested divorce means that you and your spouse agree child custody, spousal support, child support, visitation, and division of property. If you find that there is no need to fight over these things, you've already saved yourself thousands of dollars.