Finding the Right Attorney

Hiring the right attorney for your divorce is one of the most critical moves you must make. The wrong attorney can ruin your case. If he or she is too aggressive, it can can really set off your ex and create discord that doesn't need to be there. If your attorney is too soft, you could get steamrolled in the whole process and risk losing out on your share of the assets or end up with a terrible child custody agreement.

If you've never hired an attorney before, this can seem like a difficult task. How will you know who is a "good" attorney? And how will you find one who you like and can work well with?

We've got some great tips in this article, but if you want to take things up a notch and really get the best advice on this, consider getting our inexpensive resource, Finding the Right ATTORNEY.

Make a List
This simple exercise can save you loads of time down the road. Write down attorney or firm names and who referred them to you. A good place to start with referrals is another professional service provider you've worked with like your banker, financial planner, accountant, or attorney for another matter.

You may even want to get a small notebook to take notes throughout your divorce. Consider making lists for other important things like, what documents to gather for your attorney or remembering dates of important events that happened during your marriage. Think mortgage paperwork and the date you bought or sold a home. These are important things you'll want to remember to get the details and documents for, and putting them on a list will help ensure that you don't forget.

Do Your Research
Once you have your initial list, it's time to start a little investigating. So much information is available on the internet, and doing your own research will help you narrow your search for an attorney with minimal effort.

You'll want to check credentials, education, bar association membership, and online reviews, too. If you don't have a recommendation from family or friends, you need to know what successes or failures they've had and if someone has had an especially horrible experience, they tend to want to write a review.

Narrow Your Search
Interview a few attorneys before you settle down with the one who will help you win your case. But you don't want to interview too many. You want to make an informed decision without emotion, but meeting with too many attorneys can not only be costly (not all offer a free consultation), but information overload can add to your stress levels.

How to Find the Right Attorney
You have your list and are ready to schedule appointments and meet with these professionals. But, now what? How do you know which one is right? What questions do you ask?

Know how to get the best attorney for YOUR case with our resource Finding the Right ATTORNEY. You'll come out of this mini-course with the tools to find out how to choose attorneys to meet with, what you want to understand about their billing practices, the laws in your state, and important considerations when making your selection. But most importantly, you have questions to ask during your first meeting and an understanding of the legal terminology you will hear.