Hiring a divorce lawyer, is a smart move when you and your spouse have broken up or if your marriage has become stale. For instance, if you and your spouse have been married for 20 years and the passion is gone, then it may be time to look into filing for a divorce. It is important to hire a lawyer when you and your spouse have broken up because you need to protect yourself from financial problems that could result in your being unable to pay your expenses. There are certain things that should be considered when hiring a divorce lawyer.
Most people assume that when you file for a divorce, the lawyer is there to help you through the process of getting a divorce. In many cases, the lawyer may be there to offer legal advice to both you and your spouse, but he or she is not there to mediate between you and your spouse. The best way to find out who the lawyer is that you would hire for your divorce is to talk to someone in the attorney’s office.
When the lawyer comes to meet with you, get him or her to discuss what services they can provide. Often times a divorce lawyer will have a number of different services to offer. Many times, the attorney is there to represent you and your spouse. Other times, the lawyer is there to advise you on how to handle the proceedings. Many times, a divorce lawyer also wants to see you as soon as possible so that they can plan accordingly.
It is also important to choose a divorce lawyer with whom you are comfortable. In most cases, lawyers will have a certain amount of clients that they work with regularly. If you do not feel at ease with the attorney that you are talking to, it is important to ask if you can speak to someone else about the divorce proceedings. Once you are confident that you are comfortable with the lawyer, you can schedule an initial meeting.
During your initial meeting with the attorney, discuss your case. What is your objective? Discuss how long you have been married and how you and your spouse originally met. You should always remember that the goal of a divorce is to get your ex-spouse to agree to your divorce and not to simply waste your money.
During your initial meeting with the divorce lawyer, discuss your feelings about your situation. Do you think that you have grounds for a divorce or do you want to try and work things out through counseling? A good lawyer will always listen to you and provide you with the best advice that he or she can.
Ask the lawyer about professional ethics. You will be responsible for any legal fees that you end up paying after the divorce is finalized. If you have a pre-approved legal protection insurance policy, the lawyer will be able to legally answer all of your questions.
Remember that a divorce lawyer is there to help you through the process of getting a divorce and does not represent you if you cannot afford his or her services. It is always important to understand that while it is extremely helpful to hire a divorce lawyer, you are responsible for all legal fees and cannot be forced to pay anything that you do not agree with.