305-358-2330
In many situations, couples who are getting a divorce believe they can represent themselves without issue. However, most of these people, soon realize that the proceedings are quite complex and they surpass their knowledge and ability quickly. At this point, they are ready to hire a divorce lawyer. In hindsight, they realize this would have been the best decision to begin with.
The fact is, you can save yourself both time and stress by hiring an experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorney to handle your case. In addition to gathering all of your personal and financial information, you should also create a list of questions to ask the attorney you are considering using. This will help you choose the right one for your situation.
To get started, use the list of questions here.
What is the attorney’s legal specialty?
A lawyer may handle divorce cases, even though it is not part of their specialty. It is a good idea to find out about the number of family law cases the lawyer as handled, in addition to how long they have been practicing.
What is their fee schedule or rate?
It is also a good idea to find out how your lawyer figures out your rate. Do they charge a flat fee or will you have to pay hourly? Is your lawyer going to charge you for emails and phone calls, in addition to meetings with their paralegals, or will all that be included? The majority of lawyers will also collect a retainer after you hire them, so make sure to ask how much this will be.
How much is your divorce going to cost?
If your potential attorney is unable to answer this question, don’t be surprised. In most cases, the cost of a divorce is dependent on several factors, including the amount of time the case takes, if the case is going to go to trial and the complexity of the case. In most cases, the longer and more complex the case, the more it is going to cost.
Is there anything you can do to keep the cost of the divorce down?
In some situations, especially if the divorce is amicable, the lawyer will allow and may even encourage you to negotiate with your spouse to avoid having to go to trial. Also, there may be papers you can deliver or submit to the court to save on the courier fees. There are some lawyers that may not allow this, but others may agree to it.
What does the divorce process entail?
Unless you have gone through a divorce in the past, you may not know how the process works. Your attorney will be able to walk you through the process and explain how everything will work and what you can expect.
If you need the services of a divorce attorney, it is wise to schedule a consultation. To do this, contact the attorneys at the Carolan Family Law Firm, P.A. by calling 305-358-2330.