How to Choose the Best Divorce Attorney in Spokane
Choosing a good lawyer to represent you in a divorce can feel overwhelming. There are a lot of lawyers in Spokane, but not all of them are the same. And given that you’re going through one of the most difficult situations in your life, you need to know that you’re relying on the best person for the job.
Unfortunately, a clear formula for getting a good divorce attorney doesn’t exist. But, there are some key things that you should pay attention to when choosing a divorce attorney in Spokane. We’ll share them in this article, along with some questions you should ask the potential candidates.
What Kind of Divorce Process Do You Need?
Before you start meeting with the lawyers, you need to figure out what type of divorce will your divorce be.
Are you expecting to have a high-conflict divorce? This type of divorce can drag out for years and is usually resolved in court. Which means, it will definitely cost you more.
If you and your soon-to-be ex-partner can see eye to eye, you might be able to resolve any disputes through mediation, collaborative divorce, or uncontested divorce.
Knowing this will affect your decision to choose a lawyer because you’ll see if you need someone who is more aggressive in their approach, or someone who is more laid back.
What’s Your Budget?
Now that you’re aware of what type of divorce you’ll have, you need to think about the cost of it. Most attorneys charge an hourly rate. This means that you’ll be charged for every phone call, meeting, and court date. Additionally, there will probably be an up-front retainer, and you shouldn’t forget to count in the cost of hiring appraisers or expert witnesses.
In some cases, you might be able to find a lawyer that works on a flat fee. But, since divorce proceedings and decisions made during it can affect you for the rest of your life – we recommend that you don’t skimp.
If you have any budget constraints, it would be good to get them out in the open straight away so you can figure out an appropriate payment plan.
Do Some Research
Just Googling “divorce attorney Spokane” will get you to 818,000 search results! Take the time to research your top options, check what type of law they practice, how long they’ve been practicing in the area, see if you can find out anything about their past cases, and so on.
This type of research will help you eliminate attorneys who don’t have experience with family law and highlight good lawyers from your area. If you can, we recommend getting a local lawyer – they know about the local rules, and they are familiar with the judges and other attorneys – which can be very useful during a divorce process.
You can also talk to friends and family. There’s a high chance that someone knows someone who has gone through a divorce, and they might have a good lawyer to recommend.
Prepare Your Questions
When interviewing prospective attorneys, you need to ask the right questions to figure out if a person is a good match for your case.
The questions will depend on your specific situation, but here are some to get you thinking:
- What’s your experience with high-conflict divorces?
- How does the court decide custody and alimony?
- Is it likely we’ll go to trial?
- What are the possible outcomes in my case?
Besides these, you need to ask questions about the attorney’s way of working, such as:
- What percentage of your practice is family law?
- How frequent will your updates be?
- Who else on your team will be working on my case?
- What’s your fee structure?
Don’t be afraid to ask anything that you might want to know. It’s crucial that you understand the full process, and that you’re 100% comfortable with the lawyer of your choice.
Don’t Ignore the Red Flags
Even though your lawyer will also have other cases to handle, they should be able to make you feel like you’re a priority. If you can’t seem to “click” with them, it’s probably best to move on and look for another attorney.
Keep an eye out for lawyers who make promises, because nothing can be guaranteed in a divorce. An attorney shouldn’t be distracted or disengaged during your initial meeting (or any others).
Ensure that the lawyer understands how important this case is for you and that they’re not just seeing you like a paycheck.
Choose an Attorney Who You Can Trust
During a divorce case, you and your lawyer will get into all the details of your marriage, and you might need to share some of the most personal information with them. This is why you need to be able to trust them. It’s a bit weird, but you’ll “feel” it when you find a lawyer who’s going to be on your side.
They’ll have the knowledge and the experience you need, but they’ll also be able to make you feel comfortable and supported throughout the whole process.
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