While no one enters a marriage expecting it to fail, sometimes marriages do come to an end. If you are thinking about getting a divorce, you should know that this is a big choice with many effects.
When going through a divorce, it is important to hire a qualified divorce attorney who will fight for your best interests.
What is a Divorce Attorney?
A divorce attorney is a lawyer who specializes in handling divorce cases. A divorce attorney can help you with the legal aspects of your divorce, including filing for divorce, negotiating an agreement, or representing you in court.
Why Hire a Divorce Attorney?
There are many reasons to hire a divorce attorney. A divorce attorney can help you navigate the legal process, represent you in court, and protect your rights.
A divorce attorney can also help you negotiate an agreement with your spouse. If you and your spouse can reach an agreement on the terms of your divorce, hiring a divorce attorney can save you time and money.
Read: 5 Tips to get divorced with an abusive spouse
Importance of Hiring a Divorce Attorney
Hiring a qualified divorce attorney is one of the most important decisions you will make during your divorce. A divorce attorney can help you protect your rights, negotiate an agreement, and represent you in court. Some of the additional advantages includes:
1. Have Someone Advocate for You
If you are going through a divorce, you need an advocate on your side–especially if you share many assets with your former partner.
Engaging in divorce proceedings often requires dividing your assets between you and your spouse. If you try to agree on your own, it’s possible that you won’t be able to reach a compromise. Additionally, Your spouse may opt to hire an attorney so that their interests are protected throughout the process.
If this happens, you will need to find a divorce lawyer so that your wishes have the best chance of being carried out.
In addition, your attorney can ensure that everything is just. If the legal expert believes that your ex-partner is requesting more than they would typically receive, they will stand up for you in court.
2. Protect the Rights of Your Children
Divorces that involve children are often more complicated than those without. The divorcing parents may disagree over who should have custody of the children, leading to a court battle. When making their decision, authorities will try to keep the best interests of the child in mind and usually aim to keep both parents involved in the child’s life – even if one parent has sole custody.
3. Communicate Better with Your Spouse
Divorce commonly involves a range of intense emotions. You may feel anger, sadness, or betrayal at different points during the divorce. These feelings are natural, but they can make it hard to communicate with your spouse.
Although it might be difficult, preserve your composure and communicate effectively with your ex-partner during your divorce—it will make the process much simpler. When we are going through something as emotionally taxing as a divorce, it is easy to let our reactions get the best of us.
A lawyer can mediate between you and your spouse’s legal team. They will professionally handle the situation if you need to speak with your partner.
4. Remain More Objective
When you allow your emotions to rule, it becomes more difficult to be logical. An example would be if during a divorce, one partner suddenly decides they want to keep all their assets or that they deserve more than a 50/50 split.
It can be very difficult to negotiate rationally under these circumstances, so you and your spouse may need help from a divorce lawyer.
5. Have Someone To Ask for Legal Advice
Many divorces are complicated by legal jargon. You may not understand some of the steps in the process if you don’t have a lawyer. Without representation, you could make mistakes that cost you later on.
Hiring a lawyer can save you from making common, yet costly mistakes during your divorce. Your lawyer will be able to guide and support you throughout the process.
If your ex-partner tries to take advantage of you, having a lawyer can help you fight back and protect what’s yours. Without one, though, you might not know how to properly respond and could end up losing something important to you.
How Do I Choose a Divorce Attorney?
When choosing a divorce attorney, it is important to choose someone who you feel comfortable with and who you can trust. You should also choose an attorney who specializes in divorce law and who has experience handling cases like yours.
What Are the Different Types of Divorce Attorneys?
There are different types of divorce attorneys, including collaborative divorce attorneys, mediators, and litigators.
Collaborative divorce attorneys work with both parties to reach an agreement on the terms of the divorce without going to court. Mediators help both parties reach an agreement on the terms of the divorce without going to court. Litigators represent either party in court.
How To Find a Divorce Attorney In Your Area
If you are considering divorce, it is important to find a qualified divorce attorney in your area. You can find a list of qualified divorce attorneys in your area by searching online or contacting your local bar association.
Divorce Attorney: At-Home Consultation Vs Office Consultation
When meeting with a divorce attorney, you can choose to have an at-home consultation or an office consultation. An at-home consultation is when the attorney comes to your house to meet with you. An office consultation is when you meet with the attorney at their office.
What Happens During a Divorce Attorney Consultation?
During a consultation, the attorney will ask you questions about your case and give you advice on how to proceed. The consultation is an opportunity for you to learn more about the attorney and decide if they are a good fit for your case.
What Questions Should I Ask My Divorce Attorney?
When meeting with a divorce attorney, it is important to ask questions about their experience, qualifications, and fees. You should also ask questions about the divorce process, your rights, and your options.
Some of the questions you may want to ask include:
1. How long have you been practicing law?
Experience is a very important factor when choosing a divorce attorney. You would want to work with someone that has prior experience in dealing with such cases.
2. What is your success rate?
The success rate is another important factor to consider when choosing an attorney. You would want to work with someone that has a high success rate in similar cases.
If you want to avoid having a lengthy and complicated divorce, it’s best to try and settle things out of court. This generally means coming to some sort of agreement, so finding a lawyer who has successfully settled many divorces outside of court is a good sign that they may be able to do the same for you.
3. How much do you charge?
Fees are an important factor to consider when choosing an attorney. You would want to work with someone that charges a reasonable fee.
Although lawyers, much like tutors and therapists, charge hourly, be sure you are aware of the financial commitment you’re making before signing anything. The retainer fee may not pose a problem for you payment-wise, but the hourly rate could—so always ask for a cost breakdown prior to moving forward.
4. What are the different types of divorce?
There are different types of divorce, including contested divorce and uncontested divorce. It is important to understand the difference between these two types of divorce before proceeding.
5. How long have you been handling divorce cases?
If you’re considering a divorce, carefully vet any potential attorneys the same way you would a doctor.
Choose experience over novelty; the last thing you want during such an emotionally and logistically trying time is to be your lawyer’s supervisor, catching errors and making sure they are handling everything up to par. You’re paying for their services, after all.
6. What are my rights in a divorce?
It is important to understand your rights in a divorce before proceeding. You would want to work with an attorney that can explain your rights to you and help you assert them.
7. What are my options for resolving my divorce?
There are different options for resolving a divorce, including mediation and litigation. It is important to understand the difference between these two options before proceeding.
8. How will you communicate with me throughout my case?
It is important to establish communication with your attorney early on. You would want to work with an attorney that you feel comfortable communicating with.
Depending on your preference, you can choose to be as involved or uninvolved in your divorce proceedings. Some people want updates on every little developing detail, while others only care about the bigger news. If you’re the type of person who wants to know everything, ensure that your lawyer will be available to share information with you accordingly.
Hiring a qualified divorce attorney is an important decision. These are some of the questions you should ask to help you choose the right attorney for your case.
