If so, it would be best to hire a great divorce lawyer to help you during this stressful moment.
A good attorney will expedite your divorce process to help you save on time and money. Also, they’ll assist you in making amicable custody arrangements to ensure your children are taken good care of. More so, they use their experience to deal with the legal system, divorce complications and protect your rights.
However, hiring a reputable and experienced divorce lawyer is imperative to enjoy all these benefits and many more. But with unlimited options for divorce lawyers, you might be wondering how to pick the right one. Keep reading to learn seven tips for choosing a divorce lawyer in Texas.
1. Choose Your Divorce Process
Before you pick any lawyer, determine whether your divorce process will be contested or uncontested. Ask yourself whether your partner will be cooperative or stiff-necked during the divorce.
High conflict divorce cases take years to be fully decided because they involve going to court to get a final judgement. But those with cooperative couples are often faster and more cost-effective. Knowing if your divorce will be high-conflict beforehand is critical when choosing the right attorney.
If you have a high-conflict divorce, you’ll need a lawyer who’s adept at litigation and negotiation. And if you and your spouse have agreed to split ways amicably, you can go for alternative dispute resolution like;
• uncontested divorce
• collaborative divorce
• mediation
Regardless of the divorce process you choose, strive to find an attorney who will help you achieve your desire.
2. Do Some Online Research
Nowadays, it’s much easier to get adequate information about lawyers than in the past. You can access detailed and relevant information about them on the internet from the comfort of your home. All you’ve to do is google a lawyer in your area to find a wide array of things about them.
Some of the information you’ll find online about a lawyer include;
• type of law they practice
• size of their firm
• how long they’ve been practicing law in your area
• their values and personal interests
At times, you can get details of issues this lawyer has litigated. Use this information to ascertain that the lawyer you’ve in mind has adequate experience in family law.
When searching, it’s good you focus on the local lawyers. Having a lawyer that knows the local rules, judges and other local attorneys can be helpful. They comply with the local rules to keep your case valid.
3. Ask for Recommendations
Choosing a divorce attorney can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. You’ll need to comb through a plethora of options to find an impeccable lawyer for yourself. However, you can lessen this task by obtaining referrals from those who have been through a dissolution of marriage.
Odds are you have a friend, relative or colleague who has gone through a divorce process. These people would be happy to recommend their attorney or other lawyers with who they’ve crossed paths. Consult them before you begin your search process.
During the consultation process, ask them about their experiences dealing with their lawyer. If they enjoy peace of mind and succeed in their case, don’t hesitate to ask for a referral. But if otherwise, don’t include that lawyer in your recommendations list.
When asking for referrals, keep in mind that your case is different from your friend or colleague’s case. Divorce cases vary depending on facts, motives, goals and circumstances. This way, avoid choosing your lawyer based on someone else’s words because their choice might not be suitable for your case.
Take time to narrow your referrals to two or three manageable options. Reach out to each of them, conduct a background check and learn more about their services. Then compare all of them using the information you’ll have gathered and select the best divorce lawyer.
4. Prepare Some Must-Know Questions
Do you know that the divorce process is unique for everyone? Your divorce circumstances, goals and interests might differ from those of other people. Hence, take your time to analyze your priorities in the process and develop some questions to ask your prospective lawyer.
Some of the questions you ask your attorney will be about;
• how your specific properties will be treated
• if you’ll pay or receive alimony or spousal support
• how your house will be shared between you and your spouse
• how the court will decide visitation
• when they expect to complete the divorce process
Also, you can ask your lawyer about the best way to communicate with them and their availability. When asking these questions, be sure to touch on all your most important concerns.
Knowing how your lawyer will address these issues ahead of time is vital.
5. Do interviews
Once you’ve selected a few potential lawyers for your case, set up interviews with each one of them. If possible, avoid using the first attorney you come across during your search.
Take time to share your case details with each lawyer. This might be tiring and time-consuming, but it’s worth it’s fruitful.
Every lawyer will have different perceptions concerning your case. Ask them more questions and compare their feedback. Scratch them off your list if you realize that a specific lawyer is inexperienced and can’t give thoughtful responses.
6. Consider Experience
Hiring an experienced divorce attorney is a general rule of thumb. Your lawyer’s experience determines the costs and time you’ll spend during your divorce process.
An experienced lawyer understands the legal system knows the turns and twists that can pop up during a divorce trial. They’re quick to identify any developing issue and take the right course of action.
To determine the experience of your potential lawyer, consider;
• number of years they’ve been practicing family law
• successful track record
• reputation
The longer they’ve been handling divorce cases, the more the experience. Choose a lawyer who has been in the profession for the longest time.
7. Check Reputation
Before settling on any lawyer, confirm the kind of reputation they have. Reputable lawyers fight tooth and nail to ensure their clients get what they want. They aim at providing the best services to protect their brand.
To review the reputation of your lawyer, read the client’s testimonials on their website. If they’ve more negative reviews than positive ones, proceed with caution. Many negative comments signal inexperience, unfair treatment, and poor services.
Sometimes these reviews might be inaccurate, so research more on Better Business Bureau. Here, clients give reasons why they were happy or unhappy with a particular attorney.
If possible, take online reviews with a pinch of salt; they aren’t always accurate.
These Are Tips for Choosing a Divorce Lawyer
Finding a reputable, reliable and experienced divorce lawyer can be daunting. The task becomes even harder and more time-consuming if you don’t know what to look for in a perfect attorney. The above are tips for finding a great divorce lawyer to lessen your searching task.
Are you struggling to find a perfect divorce attorney in Dallas? At The Texas Divorce Lawyer, we can help you. We’re experienced in handling divorce cases and focus on enhancing our client’s satisfaction.
Contact us today for a divorce attorney-free consultation.