Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Divorce Attorney

There were over 700,000 divorces in the United States in 2021 alone. While divorces are never easy, attorneys do their part in making sure all the logistics and paperwork are in order.

With that said, what are the pitfalls of hiring divorce attorneys? What are common mistakes to avoid when trying to hire a divorce attorney?

That’s what we’re here to look at today. Read on to find out about the most common mistakes to avoid when hiring a divorce attorney. 

Why Hire a Divorce Attorney?

But why even hire a divorce attorney in the first place? Those who unfortunately have to go through the divorce process will find that there are quite a lot of paperwork and logistics to sort through.

Things like custody, assets, and child support are key parts of any divorce proceeding. A divorce attorney helps two parties get through divorce in an efficient and timely fashion. 

Two people looking to get a divorce are prone to disagree on certain aspects of this process, which is where an attorney comes in. They’ll help everyone come to an agreement while also advocating for their client.

Attorneys also provide an objective point of view during what’s usually an emotionally stressful process. Divorce lawyers take that emotion out of the equation by addressing your case with a clear and objective mindset. 

Divorce attorneys are indispensable assets during a divorce proceeding due to their overall expertise. That said, hiring a divorce attorney requires knowing what they’re capable of.

Not Doing the Research

When hiring a divorce lawyer, some forget to do the proper research on their lawyers and their corresponding law firms. This entails researching their reputations, payment structures, experience, and other factors.

When you forget to do the right research, you might end up in an unfavorable situation. You might pay a lawyer more than you need to without getting the results you want. 

To ensure this doesn’t happen, get as many referrals as you can and ask other lawyers about a specific divorce attorney or law firm. Cross-reference these responses to get a bigger picture. 

Picking Based on Price

Something that always deters people from hiring lawyers is the cost. It’s no secret that hiring a lawyer isn’t cheap, but that shouldn’t be the defining factor when choosing between different attorneys.

It’s possible that a divorce attorney with affordable rates could still produce great results. However, basing your entire decision off of their fees isn’t ideal.

Again, doing research on that lawyer’s body of work and reputation is the way to go over choosing based on price. Make sure you compare different prices before making a decision.

Overbooked Lawyers

Sometimes lawyers claim that they’ll always make time for your case no matter what, but fail to come through with it. It’s easy to believe them during your first few consultations, but this might not end up being true.

Lawyers have other clients, and sometimes your case might stagnate when they or their firm are overbooked. To make sure this doesn’t happen, you can test their overall responsiveness.

First, leave a message to your potential attorney about your case after work hours to see how quickly they respond. If they get back to you in a timely manner, it’s a good indication of their commitment to your case.

Hiring With Hazy Mind

Your decision-making can very easily be clouded by your emotional reaction to the divorce itself. Regardless of how good a certain lawyer might be, there’s a chance you’re preoccupied with the separation.

Divorce is never an easy thing to go through, especially if it involves children. If you try to hire a divorce attorney by yourself, you might not be able to remember pertinent details about your marriage during a meeting.

To avoid this, you can bring in a friend or family member to help you prepare for a consultation. They can even be there during the initial meeting to assist with any details as needed. 

Selecting Lawyers Without Family Law Experience

A divorce is usually much more than deciding who gets to keep which assets accrued during a marriage. Things like child support and alimony are key factors that often stall divorce cases.

That’s why a divorce attorney should have extensive knowledge of family law. Avoid hiring someone who occasionally deals with divorces but doesn’t have a wealth of experience in that specific field. 

This is especially important for those who have children. Ensure that your candidate pool for divorce attorneys all have family law experience. That way you can navigate this part of the process smoothly.

Not Looking at Fee Agreement

More often than not, lawyers charge by the hour. Some charge a retainer fee and bill hourly on top of that. A lawyer could charge a hundred dollars an hour with a retainer that represents four hours of work.

After the hours covered by your lawyer’s retainer are used up, they can start charging by the hour. These are all common practices, but many tend to overlook this process.

Hiring an experienced divorce lawyer is crucial, but understanding how they charge for their services is equally as important. If you want to properly budget for your divorce case, ask your lawyer about their fee structure. 

Making the Right Moves With Divorce Lawyer Tips

Hiring the right divorce attorney takes patience and knowing common pitfalls. Use this guide to help you understand how you can find the right divorce attorney for your situation!

Are you looking for divorce attorneys in Los Angeles, California, and Colorado? Contact us today and we’ll get started on a solution right away!