How to Find a Good Divorce Lawyer
If you’re facing a divorce, you need a good divorce lawyer in your corner, but finding one can feel out of reach. While your divorce will be unique to you and the circumstances involved, there are some basic tips that can help you find a good divorce lawyer – who is also a good choice for you. Don’t settle for a lawyer that isn’t willing to work towards getting you the best outcome from your divorce. Read on to learn our list of tips to keep in mind on how to find a good divorce lawyer.
Tip 1: Recognize that You Do Need an Experienced Divorce Lawyer
Many people who are moving toward divorce would like to avoid the expense of a divorce lawyer and the inconvenience of having to find one who is a good fit. The truth is, however, that having a divorce lawyer on your side helps to ensure that your parental and financial rights are well protected throughout the divorce process, which is a tall order for you to manage on your own. Your dedicated divorce lawyer will help you better understand your divorce priorities and help you strategize a path forward that focuses on what’s important to you and doesn’t get caught up on matters that are not. Finally, because even the friendliest divorces can become contentious on a dime, it’s always in your best interest to work closely with an experienced Yakima divorce lawyer.
Tip 2: Make Sure Your Attorney Is a Good Fit for You
If you aren’t comfortable sharing personal information with your attorney, he or she is not going to be able to protect your rights to the best of his or her abilities. There are certain factors that let you know you’re on the right track when it comes to finding the right divorce lawyer for you, including:
- A divorce lawyer who puts you at your ease, listens carefully, makes you feel heard, and does not judge
- A divorce lawyer who is responsive and gets back to you promptly
- A divorce lawyer who understands your divorce priorities and strategizes accordingly
- A divorce lawyer whose practice focuses on divorce and other family law concerns
Tip 3: Ask the Right Questions
One of the most important steps you can take in finding the right attorney for you is asking the right questions.
Do you have experience handling cases like mine?
Even if your divorce isn’t especially complicated, it is unique to you and your circumstances, and it’s important to find an attorney who has considerable experience successfully guiding cases like yours toward favorable resolutions.
Do you have time to take on my case?
No matter how experienced and well intentioned, a divorce lawyer who pencils you in on an already overcrowded schedule is not going to do you or your case any favors.
What are my case’s biggest challenges?
Better understanding what your case’s biggest challenges are can help you set realistic divorce priorities and direct your energies appropriately. The right divorce lawyer for you will carefully address your concerns and will help you strategize the best path forward.
Tip 4: Check out Those Reviews
Check out your prospective attorney’s online presence, including customer reviews and feedback. While everyone’s divorce experience is unique, a universal truth of divorce is that they are – to a number – stressful. Reading what other divorce clients have to say about their experience throughout this exceptionally difficult process can prove invaluable.
Tip 5: Read the Firm’s Blogs
A great way to get a feel for the attorney and firm you’re considering is to read the blogs on their website. Not only can this provide you with useful information about the divorce process but can also provide a window into the firm’s culture, values, and level of commitment. If you connect with the work’s voice – and the information shared resonates with you – it is likely a good sign.
Tip 6: Take Advantage of that Free Consultation
Many divorce firms offer clients free initial consultations, and these offer a great way to check out an attorney up close and personal. First impressions can be very important, and free consultations allow you the space to make sure you click with your divorce lawyer.
Tip 7: Find A Lawyer You Get Along With
It’s important to make sure that you are able to communicate openly and honestly with any attorney you choose. Divorce is extremely personal, and it’s likely that you will need to disclose sensitive information about your personal life and financial situation with your attorney, so you want to be as comfortable as possible. Different lawyers have different communications styles, and you should find an attorney whose style meshes with yours. Feel free to ask any attorney you are considering how they prefer to communicate with clients and whether they delegate communication to their staff.
What Shouldn’t I Tell My Divorce Lawyer?
If you are facing a divorce, you need an experienced Yakima divorce lawyer on your side. You also need a divorce lawyer who is a good fit for you. Divorce is the dissolution of a legal contract, but it is also a very personal matter that will directly affect you financial and parental rights, which means if there is something relevant to your divorce that you are not comfortable sharing with your divorce attorney, it’s probably a good idea to keep looking for the right divorce lawyer for you.
An Attorney with a Divorce Law Focus
If you’re in the market for a divorce lawyer, you’re looking for an attorney who dedicates his or her practice to divorce and other family law matters. Because divorce law directly affects families, dedicated divorce attorneys are well acquainted with exactly how personal the information you’ll be sharing is, and they are committed to putting you at your ease and focusing on helping you – not on judging you.
Your Divorce Attorney Has Heard It All
If there is something you aren’t sure you’re comfortable sharing with your divorce attorney, it’s important to remember that he or she has heard it all. Divorce is a very stressful transition in the life of anyone who experiences it, and no one expects you to be at the top of your game at all times. Cut yourself some slack and keep the following qualities in mind when you’re looking for a divorce attorney who is a good fit for you:
- A divorce lawyer who patiently listens to your concerns, puts you at ease and answers your questions in terms that you understand
- A divorce lawyer who is available when you need him or her
- A divorce lawyer who helps you understand what your best options are moving forward and how your divorce terms are likely to play out
- A divorce lawyer who understands your divorce priorities and strategizes accordingly
When you find a divorce lawyer who hits all of these marks, you’ll know that you’re where you need to be.
Should I Tell My Divorce Lawyer Everything?
When it comes to the question of whether or not you should tell your divorce lawyer everything, the answer is very simple – yes, if it’s relevant to your divorce, you should tell your lawyer. Your divorce will focus primarily on financial matters and child custody arrangements, and wide-ranging topics can pertain. If you aren’t comfortable answering your attorney’s questions with complete candor, you should think about what’s holding you back. If you recognize that you are not being forthcoming with your prospective divorce lawyer, take it as a sign that it’s time to keep looking.
What Should I Ask my Divorce Lawyer?
If you are facing a divorce, you probably have plenty of questions but may not have any idea where to start. One of the most important first steps in any divorce is finding the right Yakima divorce lawyer for you, and while this may seem like a daunting prospect, it doesn’t have to be. There are some basic questions you can ask prospective attorneys that will tell you everything you need to know – in terms of finding a good divorce lawyer who is a good fit for you.
What’s Your Practice’s Focus?
If you are going through a divorce, you want a divorce lawyer whose practice focuses on divorce and other family-related matters. An attorney who dabbles in family law and divorce is not likely to have the drive, focus, and related legal insight to help guide your case toward its most beneficial resolution.
Do You Have Time for My Case?
The fact of the matter is that divorce cases are often complicated. And a case that begins with friendly intentions can quickly heat up. If your divorce lawyer is squeezing you in, it’s unlikely that he or she is going to have the time and energy to adequately address your concerns and legal needs as they arise. Make sure to inquire about the prospective lawyer’s availability and how promptly you can expect responses to your correspondence.
How Is My Case Likely to Proceed?
While your divorce will be unique to you and your divorcing spouse – and the circumstances involved – an experienced divorce lawyer will let you know how your case is likely to proceed. This should include discussing what your best options are and carefully strategizing in accordance with your divorce priorities.
Will My Case Go to Trial?
Many people who are facing divorce are fearful about going to court – for all of the following important reasons:
- When your divorce proceeds to court, all of the terms that remain unresolved will be determined by the judge in your case. This means that you’ll have to give up your decision-making power about matters that directly affect your parental and/or financial rights.
- Going to court is generally a more expensive and a more time-consuming process.
- If your case is resolved in court, it will be a matter of public record, which means your privacy will be limited.
- Going to court is more stressful overall.
The truth of the matter is that the vast majority of divorce cases settle out of court. Generally, both spouses want to avoid the downsides associated with litigation. You and your divorcing spouse, however, won’t be expected to spontaneously land on terms that you both magically agree upon. In fact, there are multiple negotiation options that include forms of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation.
A very important point to make, however, is that if your ex is motivated to make your divorce as contentious as he or she possibly can (regardless of the consequences to him or her), there is probably very little that you can do about it, and proceeding to court may be the best path forward.
Reach out to an Experienced Yakima Divorce Lawyer Today
If you are facing a divorce, you have plenty on your mind, and there is no need to add stressing about finding a good divorce lawyer to the queue. At Dobbs & Young in Yakima, our practiced divorce lawyers understand how difficult the divorce process can be and are committed to helping you move forward with purpose and peace of mind – while protecting your parental and financial rights throughout the process. We’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 509-577-9177 today.