Your Divorce Attorney

Emotions run rampant. Divorce is an emotional event, which even when non-contested, is a difficult time in life. You never meant to end up here; you are sad, mad, anxious, and confused, and it is in this state of being that you have to rationally decide on the divorce attorney that can best handle your case.

A good divorce attorney will have empathy and patience for his clients, but some will take your case even if the lawyer/client relationship is not based on mutual understanding. To make sure you are making the best decision, there are some considerations to make. Before talking to an attorney, make a concrete list of the things that are the most important to you and gather as much information as you can about your financial situation before stepping foot into an office or meeting.

Your children are your first priority. If you are filing for sole custody, feel that your ex-spouse should have only supervised visitation, or want to work out a joint custody agreement, gather all pertinent information to the respective situation. Documentation of reason for seeking exclusive custody and all legal documents pertaining to each child will be needed.

Next, consider finances. Any and all financial documents, even those from prior to the marriage, will be needed for legal purposes. A prospective lawyer will need to know your income and your spouse’s income, and each and every debt and asset will need to be brought to his attention. Your mortgage, your car note, your credit cards, your recently paid debt, your investments, your savings accounts, checking accounts, insurance documents, retirement plans, student loans, etc. are all of significant importance.

You may be thinking, “It is the divorce attorney’s job to tell me what I need and do not need. Why should I take the time to find everything that I may or may not need prior to consulting with my attorney?” The answer? You are most likely paying by the hour. Don’t waste money paying someone to tell you what you should already know. Be over prepared, and in the name of a swift process, ask your spouse to do the same.

Custody and finances cause the lengthiest battles in divorce hearings, and depending on your goals, you will need to hire someone for your case that has your interests in mind. Is it above all importance to you that you get every penny you can in child support, alimony, or debt division, or is it your primary interest to make the process fair and quick? These preferences need to be communicated between client and counsel. Some professionals have different strengths than others, and a good divorce attorney with your best interests in mind will be willing to guide you to a better hire within his partnership or even beyond it if he feels your case would be better served.