Here are the seven questions you should ask when hiring a family law attorney:
Are you specialized in divorce or is divorce just a part of your practice?
Lawyers can practice in many different areas of law such as corporate law, family law, bankruptcy law, just to name a few. There is no point of hiring a corporate law attorney for a divorce case. Make sure your attorney has specialization in the family law. A specialized family law attorney has extensive knowledge of the family law and knows the ins and outs of the family law. Also, family law attorneys are trained to follow the objective approach for a divorce case and know how to deal with the emotional aspects of a divorce case.
For how long you have been practicing family law?
There is no substitute for experience when it comes to dealing with contentious issues like divorce. Choose a family law attorney in Houston who has at least three to five years of experience in the family law. An experienced attorney is familiar with the court procedures, judges, lawyers, and administrative staff, and has a plan for any circumstances that may occur during the divorce process hence better equipped than a fresher lawyer to protect your interests.
What is your approach to my divorce case?
This might be the most important question you can ask your attorney because it is necessary that you and your attorney be on the same page. If you are looking for the resolution of your divorce through out-of-the-court negotiations and your attorney believes in a court trial, then it gets difficult to achieve the desired results. Ask your attorney about what approach he prefers for your divorce case.
How many divorce case have you handled?
Ask your attorney about how many divorce cases he has handled. Make sure your family law attorney in Houston has some tough cases under his belt and some experience of the courtroom as well. Because you do not want to hire an attorney who does not know how to defend yourself in court.
What is your fee structure?
Divorce is a costly process. Ask questions about the cost of the divorce case. What is included in fee structure? How do you charge for your legal services? Do you charge a flat fee or an hourly rate? How do you charge for other specialists working on my case? What are your charges for a court trial? It is always good to ask all the questions related to the cost of the divorce case to avoid the unwanted surprises at the last moment.
How can I communicate with you?
How long will you take to respond phone calls? What will be the mode of communication? Can I contact you directly or do I have to contact you through your team? Ask your attorney about how you can contact him or her in case of an emergency. Communication plays a very important role in the divorce process. Make sure you can contact your attorney easily.
Who else will be working on my case?
Divorce is a complex process. Your family attorney in Houston works with a team of professionals such as private investigators, business evaluators, psychologists, forensic accountants, and physicians. Ask your attorney about other professionals working on your divorce case. Make sure your attorney has access to other specialized professionals.
These are the key questions you should ask your family attorney before hiring.
The Takeaway
The choice of your legal representation plays an important role in the outcome of your divorce case. Therefore, it is very important to choose the right family law attorney for your divorce case. So before you hire a family law attorney in Houston for your divorce case, ask the above-mentioned questions, and make your final decision.
