4 Guidelines for Choosing a Divorce Attorney

Posted by teresabeyers on September 19th, 2018

If you’ve made the decision to file for a divorce, you don’t need anyone to tell you how important it is to hire the best attorney. Your decision can determine many things about your post-divorce life. If you have children, this decision affects them too. No one gets married thinking that one day they’ll need a divorce attorney. If you live in the L.A. area, you have many options when it comes to assistance with divorce. That’s why it’s important to know how to find a Los Angeles divorce law firm that specializes in helping families. Here are four guidelines to follow if you find yourself at the end of a marriage and in need of legal help.

Ask about Their Experience

How much experience does the attorney have in family law? Even more important is how much experience they have filing divorce cases in your area. Any divorce attorney you consider should have substantial experience in handling divorce cases in your area. Why? The longer an attorney practices in a particular area, the better they get to know the judges. There are many times when a lawyer’s knowledge of the way a judge typically rules on cases, can be an advantage to you.

Ask about Their Fees

Having a good understanding of your attorney’s fees is crucial. Ask questions about fees when you make your first appointment. Be aware that some lawyers charge for consultations while others don’t. Don’t be afraid to ask what the attorney’s hourly fees are and if a retainer will be expected. Most attorneys ask you to sign a contract but if the one you are considering doesn’t, just ask.

Talk to Them

Communication is of the utmost importance when you’re hiring someone to represent you in a divorce. This person will be your voice in a case involving something personal and extremely emotional. Understand that you aren’t your attorney’s only client but it’s also important that your divorce attorney is accessible. You’ll want to ensure your attorney is the type who returns calls and emails promptly. You should be able to get a feel for how comfortable you are talking to your attorney in a fairly short time. If you decide things aren’t going well as far as communication, you want to be able to sit down and share that with the attorney.

Talk to Their Clients

Now, this doesn’t mean you can ask for the attorney’s contact file and start calling clients. What you can do is research online for client testimonials. Start at the attorney’s website. Most law offices are proud to share testimonials from satisfied clients. Next, do an internet search for a Los Angeles divorce law firm. Read the reviews. One word of caution is to weigh carefully any negative review against those that are positive. It’s a rare business today that doesn’t have at least one client who has a complaint. Just because an attorney has a client that gives a less than wonderful review doesn’t mean the attorney isn’t excellent.