Going through a divorce is already emotionally draining. And it doesn’t help that the divorce process takes at least a whole year. If you’ve got issues to go over, then expect to spend as much as $100,000.
For that reason, it’s best to hire a legal representative that you can rely on. Divorce lawyers know the process by heart. They can help you get a faster verdict and negotiate better with your spouse. If it’s your first time going through a divorce, then you’ll surely enjoy a hassle-free one with a divorce lawyer.
But hiring a divorce or family law attorney doesn’t mean they do all the work on their own. You also need to put an effort into the process to reach a successful outcome. This article outlines what to do when going through a divorce, and how divorce lawyers can help you.
Things to Consider When Hiring Divorce Lawyers
Divorce lawyers will be the ones to handle all the legal and financial aspects of a divorce. Not to mention that each of their clients has different issues and needs. That’s why you need to hire the right one for you.
A good divorce lawyer will represent you as best they can during the whole process. And even if you don’t have to go through court, they can negotiate on your behalf. Here are some of the things you need to consider when you’re looking for a divorce lawyer.
1. Experience in Divorce Law and Other Family Law Matters
Divorce law is just one of the few areas of family law. Family law is an umbrella term that covers legal issues like child custody, divorce, property division, and adoption. Family law – divorce lawyers are those that handle cases about marital dissolution. They can help convince the judge to rule in your favor and negotiate the best terms for you.
Aside from this, they can present to you all options that you may not know were available. Their experience in handling similar cases lets them predict outcomes and put up a settlement plan.
But divorce cases aren’t as simple as wanting the marriage to end. It gets complicated when you have children or properties to divide. To get the best result for your case, you’d want to hire divorce lawyers who had experience with similar family law cases. Aside from divorce, choose a lawyer that also specializes in:
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Child custody law
If you have children, then you and your spouse need to decide where they will live after the divorce. Fortunately, most family law – divorce lawyers know more about child custody since divorce cases often involve children.
But it still helps to ask the lawyer if they have handled similar cases before. This way, you’ll know that they’re accustomed to the different child custody laws in the area.
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Personal injury lawsuit
Some couples decide to go through divorce because of personal injury. If you have a similar case, find a divorce lawyer who has experience in personal injury lawsuits. Personal injury lawyers handle cases not only related to accidents but also those inflicted by other people. Generally, they take up cases of negligence or intentional tort.
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Estate planning law
Divorce also affects your future plans, including your plans for your properties. In this case, your divorce lawyer should also know about estate planning. Some people often include their spouses in their will. That is, they planned on leaving money and other assets to their spouse when they pass away.
If you’re going through a divorce, this will be a problem if you don’t revisit your estate plan. You can contact the companies responsible for your accounts and policies. But it helps to have a lawyer to review your plan. With a divorce lawyer who knows estate planning laws, you can focus more on your divorce case.
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Adoption law
You will need an adoption lawyer if you want to give your child up for adoption. They know the appropriate adoption agency and can help you file the documents you need. If legal issues arise, a divorce lawyer specializing in adoption can represent you in court.
2. How Much They Charge
It can be expensive to hire a divorce lawyer, but you don’t have to go over the budget you set for yourself. The cost of a divorce lawyer varies depending on things like their location and experience. You should be ready to ask these questions because there’s a chance that they are not included on their website.
But most of them display their contact information on their websites. Reach out to them and ask if there are fees for the initial consultation. Although some will promote free initial consultations on their websites, it doesn’t hurt to ask just to be sure. And if they are out of your price range, it’s fine to look for a different one.
3. Their Availability
Always ask about their availability before meeting with a divorce lawyer for the first time. Most of them work on numerous cases concurrently, so they can be quite busy. This doesn’t mean they won’t take your case, but you still need to ask about it. Find out their preferred way of communicating and when you can anticipate a response.
How to Make the Divorce Process Smooth With a Family Law – Divorce Lawyer
Divorce lawyers are a huge help when it comes to processing the papers and negotiating terms. But going through the legalities of divorce requires a team effort with your lawyer. If you don’t know how you can help make the process go smoothly, here are some dos and don’ts of divorce.
4. DO Disclose All Your Properties
Let everyone involved know about your properties. List them all down before meeting them. Not doing so will appear like you’re trying to trick the other party to give up the assets. If that’s the case, then the court will have to dismiss your case.
DO Research About the Paperworks
To ensure that the process is as simple as possible, you will need to get a few documents. A lawyer for divorce can help you with all this paperwork. Some of the important documents you will need include:
- Personal documents
- Financial documents
- Child care documents
- Negotiated settlements
6. DO Know Your Options
Even in unhappy marriages, divorce is not always the best option. There are other options such as legal separation, annulment, and summary dissolution.
But to know which of these is better for you, get advice from a legal representative. Divorce lawyers can make sure you have all the documents filed with the court in a summary dissolution. They also serve as a mediator to help you reach an agreement.
7. DON’T Neglect Counseling
Your feelings may shift after you’ve made your choice, and this is perfectly acceptable. Take the time to contact a therapist to help you work through how you feel. If you suppress them, they will become intrusive, which can affect your decision-making.
8. DON’T Include Others in the Process
It’s not a good idea to include other people, even if they have supported you throughout the process. This includes your other partner (if you have one), your parents, friends, and other family members. Keep your primary family your main concern and make decisions with just them in mind.
Don’t Go Through Divorce Alone
Divorce is difficult, whether it’s a mutual decision or not. It can also be traumatic, much like losing a loved one. When you’re going through one, it’s normal to feel a lot of emotions. But, this can make it hard to think clearly and make a sensible decision.
And this means trouble, especially with a lot of things at stake, such as your property and children. Even though you think you’re strong enough, don’t go through a divorce alone. Team up with an experienced divorce lawyer to avoid the hassle of divorce processes.
