Divorce FAQ

Getting a good divorce lawyer is not something you leave up to chance. It takes focused effort to find one that you can really work with and who will give you sound advice in your divorce. Here are a few suggestions to help you find a good divorce lawyer:

1. Look around for prospects - Lawyers are not created equal. Some will have more expertise in divorce and some won't. If you don't know where to start looking for prospective lawyers to hire, try our divorce lawyer directory. You can also try looking for referrals within your family and circle of friends. You can also call your local bar association to ask for referrals.
2. Ask prospects about their fees - Make sure that you ask for attorneys' fee schedules up front, before you pick one or move on to anything in the divorce. Attorneys' fees can vary greatly and will be a huge part of your divorce so make sure that you can afford the fees of the attorney you hire.
3. Ask for a meeting - Once you find several attorneys with services you can afford, request for an initial meeting. Meet with several lawyers to make sure that you have explored your options before you settle on one. You can prepare for this initial meeting by preparing a list of questions you want to ask.
4. Assess your meeting with the lawyers - You'll be working with your divorce attorney for the duration of the divorce case so this is something you should give a lot of consideration. Does your attorney look and sound competent? Is he/she going to handle the case himself/herself or will he/she designate it to a junior associate? More importantly, ask yourself if you feel comfortable working with the lawyer. Does he/she give legal advice or make comments that make you feel uncomfortable? Does he/she hint at using dirty divorce tactics?
5. Talk about the fee agreement - Fee agreements vary a lot in different attorneys. Ask for a copy of their fee agreement and read every part of it. Take your time to make sure that you understand the fee agreement and don't be hesitant to ask questions about it.
6. Pick a lawyer - Take into consideration the lawyers' credentials, specializations, their fees (and whether you can afford it), how they conducted themselves during the meeting, your level of comfortability in working with them, and their fee agreement. Once you've processed everything, you'll have an idea which lawyer comes out on top of your list.
7. Inform the other lawyers you interviewed - as a matter of common courtesy, call the other lawyers you met with to inform them that you won't be requiring their services.

After picking a lawyer and signing a fee agreement, he/she will most likely want to meet with you immediately to discuss the details of the case.