When it comes to getting a divorce, the first thing you need to do after coming to terms with the fact that you are getting divorced, is find a reputable divorce lawyer who will take your case.
Finding a divorce lawyer to take your case and be in your corner when you need him to be should be simple, but that’s only if you find one that is reputable and experienced. The list below will provide you with some tips to help you find the most experienced lawyer to meet your needs.
1. Decide on a Process
The first thing you need to do is decide on the divorce process you want to use. There are four different processes to choose from, mediation, litigation, collaborative divorce, or cooperative divorce. In other words, it’s important to match the type of divorce lawyer you choose to the process you are looking for. it is easier to make an appointment for a consultation with an attorney, who can help you decide which is the best process to suit your needs.
2. Decide on the Type of Legal Service
Next, you will want to decide on the type of legal service you need. While, it is important to have legal help regardless, when you are in the middle of a divorce, you don’t need the same legal service for a simple no-fault divorce, as you would for a divorce where you have to split property and money. Talk to people you know who have been through a divorce to get recommendations for lawyers they have used in the past.
3. Figure Out Your Budget
No matter what type of divorce lawyer you think you need, you need to sit down and figure out how much you can afford first. While no one wants to spend thousands of dollars on a divorce lawyer, if you have property and money, you may end up spending thousands more if you don’t. The trick is to look at your finances, if you live hand to mouth and from pay check to pay check, you probably don’t need a high-powered attorney that is going to charge you the big bucks.
4. Do Not Believe Everything You See on the Internet
It’s important, once you start searching for a lawyer that you not believe everything you see on the internet. This means not to get sucked in by a fancy website, promises, or someone who is paying to have their firm show up on the first page of Google. Instead, do your research and do it well, checking everything from reviews to ratings as you go.
5. Take Reviews with a Grain of Salt
While you do need to read the reviews and look at the ratings of lawyers you are considering, those reviews and ratings are not set in stone. Its important to remember that people who are getting a divorce are generally not very happy people at the moment. It is possible, that when that person left their review, they were unhappy with the way their case was going. Read the reviews, look at the ratings, but don’t take each one as gospel.
6. Always go with Your Gut
The main thing to remember when searching for a lawyer to help with your divorce is to always go with your gut. If it seems like the wrong move, then it probably is.
These are just a few of the top tips for choosing a reputable and experienced divorce lawyer to help with your divorce. Follow them to ensure your divorce is handled carefully and with the care it deserves.