5 Things to Look For When Selecting a Divorce Attorney
Divorce is a hard issue to experience. With both spouses trying to adjust to being suddenly single along with having to determine who gets what property, there is much stress in the air. Another area of potential hardship that is not often addressed is the search for a divorce attorney. This can be a battle within itself. There are so many different options when selecting the right one. Some are more aggressive than others, whereas others are more reserved. It can be hard for individuals to decide what is the option for them. Here are five things to look for when selecting a divorce attorney.
Strong Communication Skills
When looking for a divorce attorney, one of the most important traits to look for is their communication ability. This is the person who is going to be representing you in court. They are the ones who are going to look after your assets. As such, they need to be strong communicators. Not only do they need these skills for debating in the courtroom – if the divorce goes to court – but they are also an important asset to have when engaging in discussions between the spouses. In most cases, the divorce is settled out of court, which means that the attorneys are the ones who will moderate the discussions and fight for who gets what property.
It is in these situations that good communication skills are critical. The attorneys are the ones responsible for clearly articulating the desires of each spouse. If there is any misunderstanding or miscommunication, then everything from who retains the house to who gains custody is destroyed.
Many Years of Experience
A second trait to look for when selecting a divorce attorney is the amount of experience they possess. As previously stated, divorce attorneys are the ones who are going to be handling the entire process. Much of the entire process depends on how well the attorney does his or her job. If an experienced lawyer is selected for the task, a much better outcome for the client can be expected. Whereas, if an individual decides to hire a more inexperienced attorney, they should expect to be less than pleased with the results. Hiring an person with a large amount of experience is only logical. For instance, a person wanting to build a house would never hire first-time contractor. While building a house is not the same as getting a divorce, the principle is the same in both cases. Why trust an inexperienced lawyer with handling the breakdown of a marriage?
Compatible Personality
Thirdly, clients looking to hire a divorce attorney should try to find one with a personality suited to their needs. Divorce attorneys come in all types. Some are more aggressive and are looking to help their client take all they can get from their spouse. Others are more compassionate and are looking to help their client through this difficult time with as little stress as possible.
While both of these styles can prove to be effective, clients should not take that to mean that this feature does not matter when looking for an attorney. Finding an attorney that fits the style that is the most conducive to the client is key. If an individual is looking to find the most civil way to handle their divorce, it probably is not a good idea to select a cutthroat attorney whose main goal in the case is to utterly destroy the other spouse.
Invested In You
A fourth quality to look for is an attorney’s level of interest in their client. When they accept a case, their top priority becomes the client. It is their job to represent this person and help them through the divorce, so they need to take a vested interest in the affairs of their clients. How can a person expect to be represented well if their lawyer cares nothing about them? This is why it is vital to select someone who truly wants to work their hardest to produce the best outcome for their clients.
With attorneys like these, it is clear that earning a fee is not their prime concern. Instead, they care about fighting for their clients because of their clients. They know the type of effect that the entire process can produce and they truly do want the ones they are representing to have as stress free of a divorce as possible.
Cost Effectiveness
The last of the five things to look for when selecting a divorce attorney to consider is the cost. The process of gaining a divorce is already incredibly costly. There are fees for determining whether the divorce is contested or uncontested, fees for filing in court, etc. The last thing a person wants to do is add onto the cost by paying an outlandish amount of money in legal fees as well. Finding a cost-effective lawyer is an major part of picking an attorney that should be at the forefront of a person’s mind. But also remember that choosing cost-effective does not mean settling for poor quality.
There are many attorneys who are not the most expensive on the market. But they are still very capable at their jobs. Clients should never feel as though they have to shell out thousands of dollars to gain the best help. Instead, they should look for an experienced attorney within a price range they feel comfortable with.
Divorce is an incredibly hard issue to handle, which is why finding the right divorce attorney is a critical part of the process. If you or anyone you know is looking for a divorce attorney, but is not sure where to start, feel free to contact Christine Howard. We would love to talk to you about this process and answer any questions that you may have. If you would like to learn more about who we are and what we do, click here. If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys, feel free to reach out to us by phone at (864) 282-8575 or by email at info@christinehoward.com.