Basic Tips in Hiring a Divorce Attorney

Selecting a divorce attorney to handle your family law cases is a very important decision. The following are a few important standards to help in finding the right divorce attorney.

Attorney’s Experience

Any divorce attorney you consider should have substantially experienced in handling divorce cases in your location. An experienced divorce attorney will know the tendencies of the various judges in your jurisdiction and should be able to use this knowledge to your advantage. Additionally, that attorney should practice primarily in the field of divorce law.

Client Testimonials

Perhaps the best way to decide which divorce attorney to use for your divorce case is to find out what the former clients have to say about that attorney. If you do not know someone who has been a client of that particular divorce attorney, you should consider asking the attorney for a list of clients that you can contact who can describe their experience with the attorney.

Accessibility of the Divorce Attorney

When a client becomes dissatisfied with a divorce attorney, one of the most common complaints is that they were unable to communicate with the attorney. It is very important that your divorce attorney be accessible and prompt in responding to your phone calls, emails, and requests for meetings. While you can ask the divorce attorney about their office policy, this is another area where you can best evaluate the divorce attorney by hearing what former clients have to say.

Fees that the Attorney Collects

When you make your initial appointment with the divorce attorney, you should inquire about a consultation fee. Some attorneys do brief initial consultations for free, although most experienced divorce attorneys will charge between $100.00 and $200.00 as a consultation fee, or will charge their normal hourly rate.

During the consultation it is vitally important that you have a honest discussion with the prospective divorce attorney about fees and what you can expect. Typically, an experienced divorce attorney will require the payment of a substantial retainer up front, against which that attorney's hourly rate and expenses will be charged. You should find out what that attorney's hourly rate is, what the up front retainer will be, whether any portion of the retainer is refundable if it is not exhausted, and how often you can expect to receive invoices that detail their hourly charges and expenses.

Being Comfortable to the Attorney

While all the above issues are important, there is one final question you should ask yourself before hiring a divorce attorney. Are you comfortable with that attorney and are you confident in his or her abilities? If the answer is anything other than a resonant yes, you should keep looking. Your case is too important to entrust to someone who does not inspire your confidence.