Divorce 101: A Guide To Hiring A Family Law Attorney

Marriage can be one of the happiest things in your life. Unfortunately, not every marriage is built to last. When things go bad, the situation can get stressful and ugly. You need to know where to turn to get you through this ordeal.

One of the first things you should do is secure a family law attorney. They will guide you through the process and be a huge help throughout the whole divorce. This guide goes over the benefits of hiring a divorce lawyer and some tips when you are searching for one.

Benefits of Lawyer

One of the main benefits of a divorce lawyer is the experience that they offer. They have most likely handled dozens of cases similar to yours. They know what to expect, and in turn, can give you a good understanding of it.

The alternative would be you representing yourself in court and that can be extremely difficult in divorce cases, especially if children are involved. By having the lawyer represent you, you know that you are getting the best possible outcome for your situation.

Hiring the Lawyer

When it comes to picking the lawyer, you want to be smart about it. If you know someone who recently went through a divorce and were satisfied with the lawyer they used, ask them for a referral.

You may also search local family law offices to find a good lawyer. Search the lawyers' names to find reviews left by former clients. This can give you a good idea of their reputation. Schedule some consultations with a few different lawyers until you find one that you are comfortable with.

Be Prepared

It is important that you are prepared for your first meeting with your lawyer. You need to secure all important files and papers that are relative to their marriage. Any deeds or titles for the shared marital property, proof of income, taxes, etc. Take them to the lawyer so they have a good idea about what types of items need to be divided in the divorce.

If you are seeking child support, you need to show proof of your income as well as your spouse's income. The same is true for alimony or spousal maintenance. Most states will also divide the debt incurred during the marriage so proof of that is also required.

Conclusion

Divorce is one of the most stressful things you will ever go through. Try to keep positive and try to work together with the other party as much as possible.

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