Never make the mistake of hiring the first divorce attorney that you end up meeting. It is crucial that you meet with a few attorneys before you decide which attorney to hire. Divorce is tough and it is important that you choose the right attorney such as a Divorce Attorney Pensacola FL to not just represent you in court but rather guide you throughout the procedure. It is the most difficult decision that one could possibly make but the better prepared you are, the better outcome can be expected. Moreover, even if you have a referral to an attorney from a family member or friend, it is still vital that you do your homework beforehand. Make sure to check the qualifications of the attorney and whether the attorney has sufficient experienced to handle the case.
There are plenty of divorce attorneys out there and this is why you do not need to rush and hire the first one you meet. Many lawyers advertise themselves as experts in divorce or family law. However, it is not necessary that such lawyers are in fact experts in the field. Family law is a complex area of law and it is important that you hire someone who has mastered it. There are complex legal principles that are involved and you need a lawyer who understands everything. Furthermore, there are many subspecialties in family law such as guardianship, international custody law, and division of assets as well as Qualified Domestic Relations Orders which focus on the division of retirement benefits. In addition to this, there are certain financial implications that have to be considered as mentioned below.
- Child support payments
- Alimony
- Restraining orders that prohibit a spouse
- Financial disclosures between the spouses
- Division of assets and property
- Division of the retirement benefits
If you have made up your mind about getting a divorce, then, the following top 10 questions to ask your divorce attorney before the divorce will be of use.
- Do You Specialize In Divorce Law?
Before you decide to hire a divorce attorney, you need to make sure that divorce attorney you hire is in fact specialized in divorce law. You need to know whether the attorney has experience in dealing with divorce cases. It will give you a better idea of the expertise of the attorney and if the attorney is the right fit for you. You also need to check if the divorce attorney is a certified family law specialist.
- How Many Divorce Cases Have You Worked On?
The next question you need to ask your divorce attorney before the divorce is the number of divorce cases that have been handled by him or her. You have to make sure that attorney has worked on similar cases before. Thus, you can be rest assured knowing that the attorney will be able to protect your best interests. There are different laws in every state. It is better that you hire a divorce lawyer who has worked on cases in the same state as the one you reside in.
- What Would Be Your Strategy For the Case?
You need to know which strategy will be adopted by the lawyer. This is why you have to know if the strategy followed is the one you agree with. Every attorney follows a different strategy. You need to make sure that the attorney you hire follows one that you find suitable. Some attorneys will advise you to go to court, while others might tell you to seek mediation. Besides, knowing about the strategy beforehand will provide you with a peace of mind over what to expect.
- How Long Would It Take For My Case To Be Resolved?
One of the top questions that you have to ask your divorce attorney before the divorce is how long it would take for the case to be resolved. Now, this depends on your specific situation and the strategy adopted by the attorney. However, having an idea of how long it would for your case to be resolved will allow you to focus on starting a new life. Moreover, you need to make sure that attorney you hire is able to resolve the case in the shortest amount of time.
- How Long Would You Take To Respond To My Calls/ Emails?
When it comes to hiring a divorce attorney, you need to make sure that attorney is able to respond to your calls or emails within 24 hours. Furthermore, you should ask the attorney how you could get a hold of him or her in case of an emergency and what would be considered an emergency in the first place.
- Who Will Be Working On The Case?
It is not necessary that the attorney you speak with is the person who represents you in court or works on your case. Hence, you need to ask about the person who would handle your case and if it is possible for you to speak with that person to learn about their experience and qualifications.
- How Would I Be Charged?
Divorce is expensive. Hiring a divorce attorney is costly. You need to know whether you are charged based on an hourly rate or a fixed rate. Moreover, law firms even bill clients on the amount of time spent attending phone calls and meetings.
- Would Any Specialists Be Hired?
In certain cases, there is a need to hire a specialist such as a psychologist, physician, forensic accountant, and etc. It would only add up the total cost of the divorce. Hence, it is important that you ask the attorney if any specialist would be hired.
- Can I Directly Negotiate With My Ex-Spouse?
Some lawyers also restrict communication between spouses. This is why you should ask beforehand if you can directly negotiate with your ex-spouse or not.
- How Do You Think My Case Would Be Ruled By A Judge?
Finally, you should also ask your divorce attorney about how the judge would rule your case. It is important that you have an idea of the outcome of your case early on.