Hiring a lawyer is not an easy endeavor, and there are a lot of things that you need to keep in mind before hiring a separation lawyer. Let us look at some of the things that you should consider before you decide on a specific lawyer for legal assistance.
How many cases have they handled before?
This is one of the most important questions you need to ask the lawyer in the very first consultation. Getting a legal separation is a big deal, and you do not want to work with a rookie. Usually, the cases a lawyer has handled before, along with other details, are listed on the website. However, think of it as due diligence. Do your part and inquire about their experience.
Cases they settled out of court:
Well, it could be true that the legal separation is mutual. But you never know when things go south. So, you need to prepare before anything goes wrong. Ask the lawyer about how many cases they have settled out of court because going to trial will leave things very messy. You need to be sure of their competence.
Have they worked on collaborative divorces?
You would also want to know if the lawyer has worked on collaborative cases before. Unlike conventional divorces that tend to end ugly, collaborative divorces end on amicable terms. If your legal separation is mutual, your lawyer can help separate on good terms with your ex.
Make sure the lawyer does not know your spouse:
It’s often a small world, and if you are hiring a lawyer in the same area as you live, make sure there is no connection between your lawyer and your spouse. It does not matter whether they are the best of friends, you don’t want to take any chances and want things to stay unbiased.
Do they know about the family court judges:
This may not seem important but it is very crucial that your lawyer understands the nature of the judges. Based on this they can make your appeals strategic.
Final thoughts:
Make sure they are the ones who handle your case. When you hire an attorney, it is only natural that they handle your legal separation case. Make sure they do not hand off the case to another lawyer at a later stage, this will only lead to confusion.
