Getting a divorce is one of the most stressful things you can go through, and during this process, you need to be able to rely on other people’s help. It is said that more than half the marriages will end in a divorce, and this is a difficult time for all the parties involved. Some people may go through a calm separation, and things can get done fast and with ease, while other cases, maybe long, complex, messy, and they will take a lot of time and money.
In most cases, you will need a legal advisor that will help you go through the process, and who will be there to represent your best interest. Finding the right person may be easier said than done, especially now when there are tens of thousands of divorce attorneys in almost every country. In this article, we are going to give you some information on the questions you should ask a divorce lawyer during your consultation, and why you should ask these questions.
1. What do you specialize in?
When you have your initial consultation with your possible representative, you need to ask what they specialize in. You want to be working with someone who specializes in divorces, and not someone who’s handled just one case because it was a part of their practice.
You should also ask how much experience they have in this field, how many cases have they handled, and if possible, you should ask them what’s the outcome. See if they try to settle, or if they are prepared if they need to handle your case in front of a judge.
2. Are you going to be the one handling my case?
The next thing you should ask if they are going to be the one who works on your case. There are a lot of law firms that will let you have your initial consultation with one person, and then you may be assigned to another. You want to make sure you are talking to the right legal representative, and if it turns out you are not, you should book an appointment with the person who is going to be in charge of your divorce.
3. Are you going to be the only one working on my case?
Sometimes there are going to be more than one lawyer working on the same legal action, so you should meet with the team of attorneys, and talk to them as well. You need to be able to communicate with all of them, and you should know more about the team working with the one who is going to lead your case.
4. How long will the case take?
One question that you should not forget to ask is how long is this case going to last. Know that you may not be able to get an exact number, but you will get an estimate and a prediction. Remember that the more complex the legal action is, the longer it is going to take. In addition, if you have children or real estate you don’t know how to agree to divide, the case may take longer.
It is said that some of the separations may take years, so you need to be prepared for that. According to Kabir Family Law your legal advisor’s goal must be your best interest, and they would be transparent with you. They may not have an exact answer to all of your questions, but they should give you a prediction.
5. What is your rate?
Everyone has a budget, so you need to think about yours when choosing the right attorney. It is said that it is better to choose someone who is more expensive and win your legal action than to go with someone who does not have the needed experience, spend less money, and end up losing.
Talk to the attorney on what their rate is, how much would the whole case cost, and if you would need to pay any additional fees depending on their team. You should also ask about court fees and other things that you may need to pay. Knowing these numbers at the beginning is far better than getting surprised at the end.
6. How will we communicate?
Communication with your legal representative is a must, and you should always go with a person who is going to be open with you and transparent. You need to be able to reach your lawyer when you need them, and you need to have several ways of communicating with them.
Ask them about how often they are going to update you on the case, how often would you need to meet with them, and what happens if you cannot reach them. Depending on how they answer these questions, it is going to be easier for you to choose the right person to go with.
7. What is your strategy?
This may be a question that is not fit for the initial consultation, but after you tell them more about your case and specific situation, you should ask them if they have a draft for the strategy they would use. Know that they cannot give you exact details right away, and they will need to look at all the sides of the case, but they can tell you if they have some type of plan, and walk you through the usual steps in this process.
8. What is your prediction on the outcome?
The last thing you should ask if they have a prediction on the outcome. You need to be aware if there is a way for you to win, if you should do everything you can not to settle, or if it is in your best interest to lay low and try to get things done as soon as possible. The experienced legal advisor will tell you things as they are, they are going, to be honest with you, and they will let you know what the best-case scenario is, and what the worst possible outcome is.
Preparing for your initial consultation is crucial, so you should ask all the questions you have. Don’t steer away from asking case-specific things, and if you don’t understand something, ask them to explain. This is your future you are talking about and you should choose a legal representative that has the needed knowledge and experience, and a person you trust.