Divorce may be an extremely stressful and emotionally demanding process, demanding skillful management to achieve a happy outcome. You’ve come to the perfect place if you’re seeking the top divorce lawyers in your area.
These divorce attorneys will help you obtain what you deserve, whether you’re fighting for child custody, need assistance with property distribution, or need spousal support. Just choose one near you.
Concept of Divorce Law
Divorce, or “dissolution of marriage,” is the legal termination of the marital relationship. Family law attorneys handle the divorce process and involve several issues, ranging from division of property to child custody.
While it’s important to hire a lawyer who is skilled and knowledgeable, it is also crucial to find an attorney with whom you feel comfortable on a personal level.
In some limited cases, completing a divorce without hiring a lawyer may make sense, as long as neither party has representation, and there are no minor children involved.
But most divorces, particularly those involving dependent children and/or complicated property issues, go more favorably with the counsel of a divorce attorney. And if your estranged spouse has an attorney, it’s always wise to hire one yourself.
Reasons to Hire a Divorce Attorney
1. Legal knowledge and support. Divorce attorneys are professionals who understand divorce laws and what you are entitled to receive by law.
To get the most beneficial terms possible out of your divorce (including child support, asset division, and child custody), work with a competent lawyer.
2. Reduced stress. Divorces can cause enormous stress. But with an attorney, he or she will typically take care of all the work for you so you can focus on rebuilding your personal life.
3. Help with paperwork. Divorce and other family law issues require piles of paperwork.
If paperwork is filed incorrectly, your case can be delayed or even thrown out. Your attorney can help you file all necessary paperwork in a timely manner and avoid mistakes that can hurt your case.
4. An effective and unbiased mediator who can help relieve tension between the parties involved. We can be your voice of reason and guide you in making decisions that are sound and practical.
5. Cost-effective and quick solutions. Divorce lawyers deal with divorces and other family issues on a daily basis. We know exactly how the process goes and what it takes to resolve it in the most efficient manner possible.
Ways Divorce Attorneys Help Their Clients
1. Explaining Grounds for Divorce
Every state has established certain grounds for divorce that give one of the spouses the right to petition the court for the dissolution of the marital relationship.
Some grounds for divorce are fault-based, such as adultery, cruel treatment, abuse, or incarceration.
All states recognize no-fault grounds for divorce. However, some states require that the spouses live separately for a certain period before their courts are permitted to dissolve the marital relationship.
A divorce lawyer can explain whether there are any benefits to asking the court to dissolve the marriage based on fault grounds. For example, this may be relevant in determining whether spousal support will be available or how much support they will award.
2. Providing Objective Advice
While divorce is an emotional process, a divorce lawyer can help make it less so. He or she can talk to you about factors that will affect your future, such as support and custody issues so that you are less focused on the demise of your marriage.
Additionally, a divorce lawyer can serve as the go-between for you and your spouse. You can avoid personal contact to help make the process easier to get through.
3. Accounting for Marital Assets
In order to properly distribute the marital estate, a divorce lawyer ensures that his or her client discloses all such assets. In many marriages, one spouse may have handled the money and the other spouse may not be aware of the couple’s debts and assets.
A divorce lawyer can help collect records and locate assets and liabilities so that the divorce settlement properly addresses these possessions.
4. Explain Property Division
A divorce lawyer can explain how property is treated upon the dissolution of the marriage. Each spouse may have a separate property that they brought into the marriage. Other spouses may have accumulated assets separately per a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.
A divorce lawyer can explain whether the state is a community property state or a fair distribution state. This characteristic can make a dramatic difference in the distribution of the marital estate.
5. Devising a Debt Repayment Plan
Many times, handling the family debt is more tumultuous than splitting assets. Both partners may be legally responsible for the joint debt.
However, there are many cases in which only one spouse is held financially responsible for the debt. A lawyer can help determine how a spouse can protect himself or herself from debt that should be attributed to the other spouse.
When Should You Hire an Attorney?
There are certain situations where you should always hire an attorney. If there’s a history of domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, or sexual abuse, hiring an attorney is the best way to protect your rights.
When there is a power imbalance and/or violence between partners, a fair negotiation can become impossible.
If your spouse hires an attorney, you should do the same. Although you might feel like you can represent yourself in your divorce, when one side has an attorney and the other doesn’t, it often results in the unrepresented party walking away without a fair deal.
How to Find a Good Divorce Lawyer
As with many other services, finding a good divorce lawyer can start with referrals from friends or family. In addition, other professionals, such as accountants or financial advisors, may offer recommendations.
Getting a deeper understanding of their experience with a lawyer can provide valuable information on what to look for — and what to avoid.
You can also search through attorney websites, including those that specialize in matrimonial or family law.
Check Out Some Organizations Here
Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Situation
When you’ve identified possible candidates, interview your top choices. Some offer free consultations, but budget for a paid meeting if you think the attorney is worth it.
You will learn something about how you want your divorce to proceed from each meeting.
Probe for whether they have the expertise you need, whether their approach matches how you hope to work, and how well you think you would work together with that attorney. Also, as noted above, clarify the cost structure that hiring that lawyer would entail.
1. Expertise
Look for an attorney who specializes in divorce and in the issues that are most germane to your situation. You might want someone who focuses on custody-related issues or specializes in the division of complicated assets.
Having an attorney who has served on bar association family-law committees or has addressed bar associations on these topics is another indicator that they are knowledgeable in the area.
Also useful: a divorce lawyer who is familiar with the judges and court system in your jurisdiction and can shape their strategy based on knowledge of how individual judges have ruled in the past.
2. Approach
Look for an attorney who aligns with your approach to the divorce. Ask how they would handle your issues.
Some may work in a collaborative style that aims to problem-solve and minimize conflict — and perhaps settle the divorce without going to court. Others may take a more aggressive approach.
Find the lawyer who will handle your case the way you want to approach the divorce.
3. Comfort level
Because divorce is one of the tensest, most painful, and most financially risky experiences there is in life, look for an attorney with whom you feel a level of trust and comfort and who treats you with respect, consideration, and patience.
Top Tips for Choosing the Right Divorce Lawyer for You in the US
So how do you choose the best divorce lawyer for you? Here are 5 criteria and questions that you should consider:-
Family Law & Divorce Experience–how much experience do they have with dealing specifically with divorces and divorce law?
Divorce Expertise–how much expertise do they have with divorce and family law in the relevant State? Do they have any accreditations?
Reputation and Online Ratings as a Divorce Lawyer–What is their reputation? Have you asked family or friends or any of the divorce lawyers’ clients if they know about their reputation? Have your checked their online reviews?
Empathy and Compassion for your Situation–how empathetic and compassionate does the divorce lawyer seem after listening to your side of the story for the first time and before you choose to hire them?
Communication–how communicative are they? After you make the first contact with them how good are they at getting back to you and communicating clearly with you? Do they fill you with confidence or make you want to choose another lawyer?
Perseverance–how much do you think they’ll persevere with your case? The better the divorce lawyer is, the busier they will probably be, with many other clients to see to. That doesn’t mean that they won’t provide an excellent service to all of them. But the more persevering they seem, the more likely they will probably be to act in your best interests for your divorce action.
Check Out the List of the Top Divorce Lawyers in America
If you need competent family and divorce lawyers near you, do well to check out one of the ones we’ve mentioned here.
Also, if this article was helpful to you, do well to share it with others, as this might be helpful to them as well.
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