Going through a divorce can be a very difficult process. Some divorces are quick; others require court and lawyers. If you happen to be in the latter category, you need a good lawyer. Choosing a lawyer is one of the most important things that you can do in your divorce. Here are three tips in choosing the best lawyer. The tips are: do your research, cost of the lawyer does not equal the level of service, do not be afraid to fire your lawyer.
Your lawyer is going to be the person who files all the papers and represents you in front of the judge. Ask friends and family for referrals to a lawyer. Make sure you ask what you liked about the lawyer and what you did not like about the lawyer. Before you sign any retainer agreements, interview them. When you make your appointment make sure that you ask if there are any consultation fees. You do not want any surprises.
Once you gather your information, you want weigh the costs versus the services. Each lawyer charges for different things. Some charge by the minute; some charge by 8th of the hour. You want to know if the lawyer charges for postage or hand-delivering documents. Do not forget that this is additional to the court fees. You want a lawyer who you feel comfortable with, who listens to your needs, and communicates well. Remember this person needs to represents your interests to the best of his or her ability. The cost he or she charges does not accurately reflect the service you are going to receive. For example, you can go with the biggest named law firm and have the worse lawyer on your team.
If you have chosen your lawyer and he or she is not representing you well in your case, you can fire your lawyer. Remember you want the best lawyer possible. Communication is very important in this situation. Before you fire your old lawyer, make sure that you have already obtained a new one. The new lawyer will send a discharge letter to the lawyer and file it with the court. The old lawyer will still charge you for time for discussing the case with the new lawyer and preparing your file for transfer. If you owe the old lawyer money, it will delay the release of your file to the new lawyer.
Even though it is a process, changing lawyers still can be done. That is why the first two tips are the most important. The average divorce takes a year. You want to have the best person representing you. If you choose the wrong lawyer, you could be paying for years for your mistake. Steuerberater Hattingen