Five Questions for Your Divorce Lawyer

 Posted on July 06, 2017 in Divorce

With the number of attorneys currently in practice in the United States, it is important for a potential client to know how to weed out those who will fight for them from those who simply want to look busy. It can be very helpful to come into an attorney’s office with a list of questions to ask and to know which answers you want to hear. A divorce is one of the most stressful events most you will ever experience, and ensuring you have a quality attorney on your side can make an enormous difference.

#1. What is your experience level? While many think family law is a safe or easy discipline, it is in fact extraordinarily complex. In Illinois, it is arguably more so, as many applicable laws do not necessarily align with those of other states. It can be a game-changer for the worse if your attorney does not have significant family law experience, as regulations frequently change and the stakes in such cases tend to be very high.

#2. Will you handle my case personally? It is sadly common for attorneys to bait and switch, holding out the most experienced or reliable member of their firm to land the case, and then delegating all the work to a junior associate or even a paralegal or other staffer without a law degree. If an attorney is evasive as to whether or not they will be personally handling your case, it is never a good sign.

#3. What is your style? It may sound inconsequential, but understanding how an attorney likes to conduct themselves in court and while working with—or against—your spouse can be a boon to help you decide whether or not they are a good fit for you. If you fear your divorce will be high-pressure and full of acrimony, you need an attorney who is comfortable in such a situation. If you have no such fears, a more laid-back legal professional may be a better bet.

#4. How will financial issues be handled? Even if a couple has relatively few assets, most divorce cases still do require a decent outlay of funds. Many attorneys require a retainer, or a deposit of sorts that either reserves the attorney’s time for a set period or is intended as payment that the attorney earns by working over time. There are also filing fees and other incidentals. These may be fronted by the attorney who is then reimbursed, but not every attorney handles such issues in the same way. It is a good idea to ask about a firm’s financial approach before concluding any kind of representation agreement.

#5. How quickly do you think a case like this can be resolved? While no attorney can guarantee that a divorce case will conclude at a certain point, they can usually give a rough estimate, or at the very least, they should be able to advise you as to how quickly they like to work and how much time they will have to devote to your case. If an attorney refuses to give any kind of estimate, it may indicate that they do not have a sense of how they like to work.

Contact Our Office Today

When divorce happens, it affects both parties and any children in a truly profound way. Having the right legal help can make the process quicker and overall less painless for all involved. Contact an experienced Naperville divorce attorney at Pesce Law Group, P.C. to get the guidance you need. Call 630-352-2240 for a free consultation today.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/99/099-0764.htm