The United States has a very high rate of divorce. Across the nation, there is one divorce approximately every 36 seconds, representing about 2,400 divorces per day, 16,800 divorces per week, and 876,000 divorces every year. If you are getting a divorce, it is crucial you speak with qualified divorce attorneys for family law legal advice. Choosing the right divorce lawyer can be tricky, so here are some family law questions to ask a lawyer before you hire one.

1. Do you specialize in divorce and child custody agreements?
It is important to figure out if your chosen lawyer has a specialty. Ideally, you will want to choose one that only practices divorce, as these lawyers tend to have more experience and knowledge of cases of all kinds.

2. What do you need from me?
Simply put, divorce can be messy. A lot is on the table, including different financial matters, child custody, and property ownership that needs to be resolved amicably. To ensure that the divorce attorneys can properly do their job, you will need to be upfront and honest about everything that happened during your separation. This also includes providing as much information and as many documents as you can, including living wills, bank statements, and home deeds. Always, always be transparent with your attorney and provide him or her as much information as you can.

3. How will we communicate?
While you may not need to communicate all the time during the divorce process, it is a good idea to stay as updated as you can. Ask your attorney if he or she will reach out to you if anything new happens to the case, or if he or she prefers you contact him or her first. It is also a good idea to see if any other legal professional will be working on the case, such as other divorce attorneys or paralegals, so you know who to talk to and when.

4. Will you let me negotiate directly with my spouse or will everything be done through their own attorney?
Every divorce lawyer handles things differently. Some choose to only communicate with the partner’s attorney as a way to get things settled faster, however, if you have a special request or preference definitely ask before you agree to any negotiations.

5. Do you handle custody or do I have to go to another practice?
Again, this answer depends on your lawyer. Usually, divorce attorneys choose to handle child custody, but they may believe your case requires additional child custody lawyers.

Need any additional legal advice? Contact our qualified and experienced divorce lawyers today with any questions you may have.