Working with a divorce attorney is one of the best decisions you can make when it comes to any kind of divorce. Oftentimes, people choose not to work with an attorney simply because theirs is an uncontested divorce. In the long run, the majority of these people end up being frustrated. Regardless of the type of divorce process you are going for, you must always work with a good divorce attorney. This article takes a quick look at the considerations you need to make when evaluating the best rated attorneys in your area.
Consider their specialty
The first thing you need to check is the specialty of the attorney. It is not uncommon to find an attorney who handles divorce cases on occasion. Such an attorney will not be good for you. You want to work with someone who is in family law fulltime. That way, you will be able to leverage on his experience dealing with judges and get a fair ruling. Make sure that the attorney has worked in your area for many years before hiring him/her.
Look at his experience
There is no substitute for experience. If the attorney has no experience handling the type of divorce process that you want, he will end up irritating you. The best way forward is to find that one attorney that has been a divorce lawyer for years. Such an attorney understands the process and will be able to navigate the challenges that often get in the way.
Pay attention to the negative reviews
While reviewing the list of the best rated divorce attorneys Houston, you must never ignore the negative reviews. These reviews will give you more insight into the law firm you are considering. Get to know why the reviewers left a negative review. What did they hate the most about the attorney? At times, the negative review might just be what you don’t want your attorney to be. Read as many reviews as you can.
Review their service fees
One thing you cannot ignore when hiring an attorney is his service fees. When you make the first appointment with the attorney, you need to inquire about the consultation fees. There are attorneys who do free consultations. However, with the experienced attorneys, you will have to pay between $100 and $200 as the consultation fee. Some might even charge you their normal hourly rate. You need also to know what the hourly rate of the divorce attorney is and what you must pay upfront. Always insist on a contract that outlines the fee agreement prior to contracting a divorce lawyer.
Last but not least, you need to make sure that you are comfortable working with the attorney. While all the aforementioned points are important, the most important point is to ensure that you are comfortable working with the lawyer. How is the communication? The last thing you want is to work with an attorney that makes you feel ignored or one that forces you into things. Pick someone that gives you the attention you need.