7 Steps to Finding the Right Divorce Attorney

28

You may not know who to turn to when you’re dealing with a divorce. Most people don’t have the name and number of a good divorce attorney on hand, so now you have to determine how to choose the best divorce lawyer for you. There are several steps you should take.

7 Steps to Finding the Right Divorce Attorney

1. Pick a Firm

Ideally, the first thing you should do is find a single law firm you trust and would like to work with. This firm will have several attorneys working within it, so you can evaluate several different lawyers to see which one is the right fit for you to work with. The top divorce lawyer in Houston for you will be working at that firm, just waiting to work with you.

2. Be Realistic

Once you’ve chosen a law firm, it’s time to get realistic about what you can expect of the attorney you choose within it. You may be angry or frustrated, but expecting to find an attorney who’ll back up every single choice you make based on the feelings you’re having about your divorce is going to be a wasted effort.

You want to find somebody that is rational and will listen to you but who’ll also come up with a resolution that works best for your case. Don’t expect your attorney to be your best friend and support every little frustration you’ve got: it’s their job to help you reach your attainable goals in your divorce. They can’t work miracles, and any attorney who promises to get you every emotion-fueled thing you ask for without compromise shouldn’t be trusted.

3. Set Goals

What is it that you wish to get out of your divorce? Do you want to get the most assets? Also, do you want custody of your children? Do you just want out of this marriage and you don’t mind what you get as long as you’re free of your former spouse? Outline these goals so you can tell them to your attorney during your consultation, and they’ll help you determine whether these goals are realistic for your case.

Your goals will also help your attorney decide whether or not this case is something they can comfortably work on and whether you’re someone they’d like to work with.

4. Narrow Your Choices Down

Once you’ve determined your goal and have realistic expectations of what your attorney can do for you, you can begin to narrow down your options for an attorney. You will likely have a list of attorneys you may want to consult with, so now you can narrow that down to three and save the rest of the list just in case you don’t gel with any of the three you consult with first.

Narrowing your choices down will make this whole experience far less daunting as you won’t have a dozen or so attorneys to consult with before you make your choice.

5. Start Consulting

Attorneys typically offer a free consultation for prospective clients who wish to work with them. Use this time to check out the lawyer and determine whether or not they seem like the right fit for you. Ask them relevant questions about your case, their career, and how they work with their clients. If they don’t seem like someone you’re comfortable working with, then perhaps it’s best to work with one of your other options.

You should ideally ask all the attorneys the same types of questions and weigh their answers against each other while you determine who you would feel blessed working with. While consulting you should also discuss payment, as some attorneys charge differently than others. Hourly fees, retainers, and taking a fee that’s contingent on what you get in your divorce settlement are three common ways your attorney might charge for their services.

6. Do Further Research

Once you’ve spoken to a couple of attorneys, do some further research on them. Look for testimonials from past clients, consider the outcomes of their recent cases, and see if they hold any positions in any legal organizations. Ideally, you’ll end up working with somebody with a high success rate of getting their clients what they want, somebody in good legal standing, and somebody whose clients have been happy while working with them.

7. Make Your Choice

If you don’t feel comfortable with any of the prospective attorneys you’ve chosen, don’t be afraid to choose three more and begin the consultation process over again. Finding the perfect person to work with can be a difficult and time-consuming process, and that’s okay. Just make sure you find somebody who you’re fully confident and comfortable working with.

Being realistic, knowing your goals, and weighing your options with different attorneys should always be a tactic when you’re trying to choose a lawyer to help you with anything, including divorce. Don’t be afraid to switch attorneys if you find the one you’ve chosen doesn’t make you feel comfortable, and always ensure you and your attorney are on the same page when you hire them.