Family Law

Three Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Divorce Attorney

By Ben Stevens

Did you know that when facing a divorce, one of the most important decisions you make is choosing which lawyer to hire?  Unfortunately, too many people make the wrong choice and the consequences can be disastrous.

Michael D Sherman has written an excellent article on this topic, and the following are summaries of three costly mistakes and ways that you can avoid them:

Mistake #1:  Hiring a generalist.  

Solution:  Hire a specialist.  Ask the prospective divorce attorney whether they specialize in family law. If at least 70 percent to 80 percent of their practice not focused on divorce and family law issues, you should go elsewhere. 

Mistake #2:  Hiring a lawyer that bills you by the hour.

Solution:  Seek out a lawyer who will represent you on a fixed fee (a.k.a. a flat fee) instead of billing you by the hour. 

Mistake #3:  Hiring a lawyer to represent you solely because they have a reputation of being the meanest lawyer in town. 

Solution:  Find a lawyer who is assertive when he needs to be, compromising when it benefits your long-term best interests, and always aware of the many different consequences his actions have on you and your family. 

Source:  "Need a Divorce Lawyer? Avoid These Three Costly Mistakes in Hiring Your Divorce Attorney" by Michael D Sherman of the Alabama Family Law Blog.

Full post as published by SC Family Law Blog on May 06, 2009 (boomark / email).