How to Find an Attorney for Your Family Law Case in Arizona PART 2
In Part 1, we discussed the things that you need to do when you are planning for a divorce and whether you should work with an attorney. Now, it’s time to get a closer look at how you can find a great attorney that can help you. Remember, just because someone’s a divorce lawyer, it doesn’t always mean that they are the right person to choose for your case.
Prepare Questions
One of the first and most important things you have to do when you are looking for an attorney or planning for divorce is to think about all of the types of questions that you have about your divorce, as well as their practice. For example, you want to know more about how long they have been acting as an attorney in the state, their level of experience, etc. Write down a list of all of the questions that you might have.
Additionally, you will want to bring any paperwork or records with you to your initial meeting in case they are needed. This might include a decree that you want to be modified, for example. If you already have a child support order, you should bring that, as well. If you are just now starting your divorce, then you won’t have any of that type of paperwork, so don’t worry. Just go to the attorney with your notebook full of questions.
Some of the types of questions that you will want to ask include:
- Who will work on my case?
- Are my goals realistic?
- What are your average fees for cases like mine?
- What does your fee include?
- How will we solve these problems
- How long will it take?
Keep in mind that sometimes, the person who you meet with for your initial consultation will not be the person that ends up representing you. This is because all cases are different, and the team might have an attorney that is better suited to your particular case. Just make sure that you understand why the person that will be working with you is not the person who did the consultation. It needs to be in your best interest.
Knowing whether your goals and expectations are realistic is an important question to ask because whether they are realistic or not, the attorney needs to understand them. They need to know what you want to have happen with your case. Once they know the goals, they can then start to talk with you about strategy and figure out how you can get as close to those goals as possible.
Of course, the attorney should be honest and let you know that some goals might be difficult and that it might take a bit of work to try to make them happen. They shouldn’t guarantee anything, but they should be willing to strategize.
If you talk with an attorney who tells you that your goals aren’t achievable, you might not be working with the right lawyer. They might be looking for an easier way to handle your case that doesn’t take your goals and needs under consideration. You want to work with an attorney that is willing to strategize and come up with plans that can help you achieve those goals or get as close to them as possible.
When it comes to the fees, the attorneys should be able to answer this. They should be able to let you know what they typically charge for similar cases, as well as everything that their fee will include. However, you must keep in mind that this is not a guarantee. Each case is different. Certain things might come up with your case that could make it more difficult, for example. In those cases, the fees could be higher.
Just like the fees, the attorney can’t give you an exact amount of time that your divorce will take before it’s complete. Again, this is because all cases are different. However, they should be able to give you an estimate on how much time a case like yours takes on average, along with some ways that they might be able to speed it up.
If you find that the attorney you are talking to or that you’ve hired seems to be evasive with the questions that you’ve asked, be careful. You have to ask yourself why they are being so cagey. Do they not have enough experience? Are they trying to find ways that they can bill you for more? If they can’t answer questions that you have, or they skirt around the subject, it’s worth noting and being wary.
Know the Track Record
As touched on earlier, you need to know more about the attorney’s record in the field. What are their training and experience like? How many cases have they handled? What types of cases have they litigated? Have they worked with cases like yours before? You do not want to work with a lawyer that dabbles in family law. You want to choose someone that has the experience you need on your side.
Know How the Billing Will Work
You should also get an idea of how the billing works with the attorney. You can get a ballpark figure on the cost, but keep in mind that things could change. Remember to make sure that you know what the fee includes, how often you will be billed, and whether the attorney has a l Will the bill provide information about what the attorney has done for you during that time? Always make sure the billing is transparent and easy to understand.
Now, you should have a better idea of the steps you need to take when you are planning for a divorce and how you can narrow down your selections when you are searching for an attorney. Take the time to find a divorce lawyer in Arizona that can help you with your divorce case. It will ease the burden and frustration of trying to handle it all on your own.
