How to Choose a Divorce Lawyer?
If you want a divorce, you have probably thought about how to choose a divorce lawyer. You might even be trying to decide whether to have a lawyer at all. Well, it’s not something that is easy to do. Your lawyer can be instrumental in making or breaking your divorce, so it’s important that you take a look at a few pointers before you pick one. There are certain characteristics that all good lawyers have, which makes it easier for you to decide if you should hire one. Here are 10 important things that you should think about when you’re trying to find a family lawyer in Canada.
Experience matters – Just as with many other careers, experience counts. There is something called the “benchmarking” test, which you can use to find out how much experience a lawyer has. The higher the number of years that a lawyer has been practicing, the more likely it is that he or she will know what you need. If you feel comfortable with your divorce lawyer, this is something that you should definitely pursue.
A good divorce website – When you choose a family law firm in Canada, you’ll want to see some sort of website. A good divorce website will let you search for local divorce lawyers by city and/or province. In addition, you can usually learn about how long a particular lawyer has been practicing law and what his or her professional goals are. This is a great way to get an idea of whether or not you feel comfortable with the lawyer that you eventually choose.
Referrals – Friends, family lawyers, and newspaper articles can all be great resources for finding good divorce attorneys. Of course, it’s not very likely that they would give you the name of a good family lawyer if you ask for it, but they may be able to steer you toward an appropriate lawyer. Keep in mind that attorneys who are recommended by close friends, family members, or newspapers generally have a good reputation and usually treat their clients well. It’s a good idea to follow up on the referrals that you get and make sure that the divorce proceedings are progressing as expected.
If you are unsure of how to choose a divorce lawyer, you might also consider asking your current lawyer for recommendations. If your current family law firm provides divorce services, there is likely a good chance that they can recommend someone that you should hire. You should not stop by just one referral; however, you should at least obtain the names of two or three family lawyers. Then, call each one and ask them about their recommendations. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions, such as why they recommended the particular person or what you can expect from them once you proceed with the divorce. Good family lawyers will always put your interests first, which should be an indication that they are the right attorney for your case.
If you are in the market for a divorce attorney, there are a number of good law firms that you can choose from. Many of the larger family law firms have attorneys that specialize in a particular area of the law, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find one that best suits your needs. Some people worry about spending too much money while hiring a divorce attorney, but there are many affordable options. In fact, you may even qualify for a fee-based divorce attorney if you happen to have made a large financial investment in some legal fees, such as a house or other real estate. Regardless of whether you choose to pay for an attorney upfront or use a non-fee-based service, make sure that you research the firm thoroughly before hiring.
