Hiring the right family law attorney the first time is important. You don’t want to have to go through the trouble of searching another lawyer to take over your case when you found out that the first lawyer you hire is inadequate for handling your case. The following are 6 factors to consider when hiring a family law attorney.
- What is Your Impression of the Attorney?
The first impression when you meet with the family law attorney McKinney TX is the most important. You will know yourself whether you feel comfortable when you are talking with the divorce attorney. You should ask lots of questions, and see the reaction of the attorney when you talk about your divorce situation. Does the attorney listen attentively to what you said and respond accordingly? Does he gives you any chances to ask question and talk or does he do all the talking? The most important thing is that you must be able to get along spontaneously with the family law attorney since he will be working with you on the case for some time.
- What is the Availability of the Attorney?
The next thing to consider is the availability of the divorce attorney to handle your case. Some attorneys are incredibly busy with lots of cases queuing up. If the attorney is busy, chances are he will be reluctant to have meeting with you when you request it. It is better to hire an attorney that has available time to communicate with you if you know that you will have need of talking with the attorney frequently.
- Is the Attorney Knowledgeable in Family Law?
Another factor to consider is how knowledgeable the family law attorney is. You’ll know by asking the lawyer some questions. If he cannot answer your questions promptly, it means that he is not that well versed with the family law field. An experienced lawyer is even better as he can relate to his experiences in handling the cases of past clients when answering your questions.
- How Will the Attorney Communicate with You?
You should ask the attorney about the communication methods and the estimate time it take for them to respond to an email or voicemail. In addition, also ask whether it is necessary to have face to face meetings and the arrangement. You can request the attorney to arrange the meeting on webcam if it is inconvenient for you to come over to the office to have face to face meeting.
- What is Your Budget?
The budget you have is an important thing to consider when you are hiring a divorce attorney. So, be sure to ask for an estimate quote. The actual cost of the legal fees may be slightly more expensive. By this, you’ll know whether you have enough money to cover the cost of the attorney. If the attorney charges on contingency basis, you should calculate and see whether you earn back enough compensation after minusing the retainer fee.
- What are Your Priority Needs?
Before hiring, evaluate your divorce case and identify your needs. Are you in serious disagreement with your ex-spouse? Is it to the point that you cannot talk with your ex-spouse and he/she is abusing you verbally/physically? Do you plan to fight for your rights in a trial if your ex-spouse refuse to agree? If you want to settle out of court amicably, you should hire a divorce attorney that has specialization in collaborative divorce. On the other hand, if you want to settle the case in court, you should choose a stronger and fiercer lawyer that has the confidence to help you win the case.