Hiring a divorce lawyer Fairfax to handle your divorce is a crucial decision. The lawyer you chose will handle personal and private information and it’s therefore important that make an informed choice. The lawyer you hire will determine how well you are able to move on after the divorce process. If there are children and assets you may need to involve child support lawyers and high assets divorce lawyers in the process. In this post, we tell you factors to consider when choosing a divorce lawyer to ensure a smooth process.
Different Types of Divorce
- Summary Divorce
A summary divorce is granted to couples who haven’t been married for long and they don’t own properties. The couple must file the court papers jointly.
- Uncontested Divorce
An uncontested divorce is one where both spouses agree on the divorce and they collaborate to make the divorce happen.
- Default Divorce
A default divorce is granted where you ask for a divorce and your spouse doesn’t respond. It’s granted when your spouse leaves to an unknown place.
- Fault and No-Fault Divorce
In the fault divorce, you have to show your spouse is at fault while no-fault divorce you tell the court that your marriage cannot be redeemed, and the differences are irreconcilable
- Mediated Divorce
A mediator will help you and your spouse communicate with each other until you can come to an agreement.
- Collaborative Divorce
In a collaborative divorce, you work with family lawyers to settle the divorce. The lawyers from both sides cooperate for a smoother divorce process.
- Arbitration
In arbitration, both parties agree to hire a judge who will help you agree on the various aspects of the divorce.
- Contested Divorce
A contested divorce is one of the hardest kind of divorce as you and your spouse don’t agree on most of the issues. You need to hire a child support lawyer to deal with child custody and high asset divorce lawyer to deal with the sharing of assets especially if during the marriage you had bought a lot of properties.
Factors to consider when Hiring a divorce Lawyers
Below are tips to help you choose the best lawyer.
- Experience and Expertise of the Divorce lawyer
Choose a divorce lawyer who has substantial experience and expertise in handling divorce cases. An experienced lawyer understands all legal nuances and corners, knows what to expect from a judge and how to deal with any arising issues in your case. Don’t work with a general lawyer, instead hire a divorce lawyer or a family lawyer whose experience is in divorce processes. If you are in the military, hire a military divorce lawyer as they have the experience to deal with your case.
- Client Testimonials
Look out for testimonials about the lawyer you want to work with from previous clients. A friendly lawyer will refer you to a few of his clients so that you can hear their divorce stories. You can also check at the state bar association if there are any complaints about the lawyer you want to work with.
- Ability to Communicate with Attorney
It’s critical that you hire a lawyer you can communicate with, effectively. One of the major complain you will hear about divorce lawyers is that they are not communicating well. Find a lawyer who is prompt in responding to your calls, emails and has time to meet you. Ask the lawyer about their office visit policy and confirm from previous clients that they respond and communicate well.
Make sure that you are satisfied with how the lawyer communicates and ensure that you have a connection with them. The family lawyer should have time to listen and understand your concerns and communicate effectively.
- Fees that the Lawyers Charge
When you meet the lawyers for the first time, inquire about the fees they charge. Some lawyers charge a fixed fee or an hourly rate. It’s important that you also find out if there are independent charges that you will incur. Confirm whether there are fees such as filing fee, process server costs, court reporter fees, or even expert witnesses. Make sure that you sign a contract that indicates all the charges and cost. Hire a lawyer whose charges are within your budget.
- How Comfortable you are with the Divorce Attorney
Before you hire a lawyer, you need to be sure that you are comfortable, and you can be able to lay out your concerns and questions freely. Choose a lawyer you are sure can handle your case and shows genuine concern. Visiting the lawyer regularly will give you an idea of whether the lawyer is right for your case. Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure the lawyer is right for your case.
Get a lawyer who is dedicated and has the time to attend to your divorce case. It’s important that you are comfortable and you can trust the lawyer. Make sure that you are confident in the ability of the divorce or the family lawyer you hire. Consider the above factors and make an informed decision.