Are you considering divorcing your spouse? If so, you want to find the best divorce lawyer in Monmouth County to represent you. However, how do you know you are hiring a skilled divorce lawyer who is equipped to handle your case and achieve the outcome you desire? An excellent way to evaluate a divorce attorney is to ask these nine questions before hiring a Monmouth County divorce lawyer.
1. How Long Have You Practiced Divorce Law in New Jersey?
Nothing can replace real-world experience. Make sure that you retain a lawyer with significant experience. Instead of hiring a general practice lawyer, search for an attorney who focuses their law practice on family law matters.
2. What Types of Divorce Cases Do You Handle?
You need an attorney who has experience handling cases similar to your case. For example, you would not want to hire a lawyer to handle an LGBTQA divorce who has never represented a client in a same-sex marriage. Likewise, if your divorce will be contested, you should not hire an attorney who does not go to trial and handles mainly uncontested divorce cases.
3. Who Will Handle My Divorce Case?
Large law firms have many associate attorneys and paralegals. While several staff members may assist with your divorce case, you want to ensure that the attorney you interview is the person working on your case. If an attorney has too many cases, they may be unable to devote sufficient time to your divorce case.
4. What Is Your Fee Structure?
It is crucial that you understand the attorneys’ fee structure. In addition to asking about the retainer fee, hourly rate, and billing practices, ask the attorney how the costs of the case are paid. You should also ask if there is a chance that the court could order your spouse to pay some or all of your attorneys’ fees.
5. How Do We Communicate About My Case?
Communication is a vital element of a successful attorney-client relationship. Ask the attorney about e-mails, phone calls, text messages, and other forms of communication. Confirm the average time it takes to receive a response when you contact the office and how often the attorney provides case updates.
6. What Are the Implications of a Divorce in New Jersey?
A divorce is the legal process of ending a marriage. However, your divorce has implications for other areas of your life. Discuss property division, child custody, child support, and alimony payments with the attorney. How do they anticipate the divorce impacting these issues?
7. Have You Been Sued by a Client, Reprimanded, or Disciplined?
It is wise to check an attorney’s disciplinary record before hiring them to handle your divorce. You can search the database of disciplined attorneys online through The Office of Attorney Ethics (OAE). The OAE has maintained a database of disciplined attorneys since 1988.
8. What Is the Divorce Process for My Situation?
Every divorce is unique. However, all divorce cases share some similar steps. An experienced New Jersey divorce lawyer should be able to explain the New Jersey divorce process, including a timeline if no problems arise. The attorney should also be able to explain how certain factors in your case could impact the divorce process and timeline.
9. What Is Your Strategy for My Divorce Case?
After discussing your situation with you, an attorney should be able to outline their initial strategy for your divorce case. Remember that the strategy could change as the attorney engages in a thorough investigation. However, the lawyer should be able to provide general information about the divorce process.
Contact a Monmouth County Divorce Attorney for Help
You should contact a divorce lawyer as soon as you consider dissolving your marriage. If you are served with divorce papers, call a divorce lawyer immediately. You must file a response to the divorce papers within 35 days, or the court may order in favor of your spouse.
Hiring an attorney as early in the divorce process as possible benefits you. Your attorney has ample time to prepare your case before filing divorce papers. Furthermore, working with an attorney helps you avoid making mistakes that could hurt your divorce case.
Call a Monmouth County divorce lawyer if you are considering getting divorced. Receiving sound legal advice can help protect your heart and your legal rights.
Contact an Experienced Monmouth County Divorce Attorney at The Law Office of Jennifer J. McCaskill, LLC for Legal Advice
To learn more and get the help you deserve, call our divorce & family law firm in Red Bank. NJ at (732) 747-1882 or contact us online today.
You can also visit our law firm at 157 Broad St #111, Red Bank, NJ 07701.
