Choosing the right family law attorney significantly impacts your experience and outcome during separation or divorce. You need someone you feel comfortable with and can trust to represent your best interests. Asking key questions when interviewing a prospective family law attorney helps you find the right fit.
- How Long Have You Practiced Family Law? You want someone experienced specifically with family law cases. Ask how many years of experience they have and how many cases they’ve handled that are similar to yours.
- What is Your Philosophy on Settlement vs. Litigation? Understand whether they tend toward settling out of court or taking cases to trial. Make sure it aligns with your goals.
- What are Your Hourly Fees? Ask for a detailed cost structure accounting for their rates, paralegal fees, filing fees, and any monthly retainer fees.
- What is the Average Divorce Timeline? They should explain realistic timeframes based on settlement vs. litigation paths to set expectations.
- How Responsive are You to Inquiries? Going through separation/divorce causes stress and questions. You deserve to have a dependable and responsive lawyer to answer those questions in a timely manner.
- What Percentage of Your Caseload is Family Law? While some general practice lawyers dabble in family law, you likely want to work with someone who is dedicated to it full time.
- Can You Provide Client References? Speaking with past clients offers insightful feedback on a lawyer’s competence, communication style, and bedside manner.
- How Often Will We Meet? Ensure you align on preferred meeting cadence, availability by phone/email, and how informed they keep clients throughout proceedings.
- What Makes You Stand Out as a Family Law Attorney? Listen for passion, commitment to clients, mention of favorable case results, or unique offerings that impress you.
Following your informed gut instinct on rapport, competence and trustworthiness allows you to engage the right counsel. An attorney well-matched to your needs helps you successfully navigate turbulent changes. We are happy to answer your questions, so give us a call.