Lawsuits can always have a personal impact on the plaintiffs and defendants involved, but few types of legal issues have as personal an impact as do divorces and child custody battles. Since these cases are so personal, the choice of who should represent you before the New Jersey Family Part judge becomes of critical importance.
Ask whether the lawyer is comfortable handling your claim to bring about the result you want
You might know that you and your spouse have largely resolved most of the issues surrounding your split and need the help of an attorney to hammer out the final details and create a property settlement agreement. Similarly, you may have complex issues that need resolving, but feel that resolving as many of those as possible out of court would be best for you and your family. Discuss these issues when meeting with any potential attorneys. If you feel like the attorney tries to discourage settlement in favor of fighting for more through a courtroom divorce, the attorney may not be the right fit for you. Likewise, if you feel that your case is going to go to trial, be sure to choose a lawyer with sufficient courtroom experience.
Find out in advance about the expenses involved, how long the process will take, and who will handle your case.
Don’t end up blindsided by high costs or a prolonged wait for your case to resolve. Ask upfront how a potential attorney would charge for their services, and if there are ways that you can keep down the costs associated with your divorce. Also ask your attorney to estimate the length of time it will take to complete your divorce, based on what you’ve explained about your case. Sometimes larger firms will have potential clients meet with senior attorneys but will ultimately hand the case off to a junior associate. Be sure you know who would be handling your case and whether you should expect it to be the same attorney throughout the case.
Make sure you know and like the attorney you choose, and that you can expect regular updates on your case
It’s important to find a divorce attorney whom you can trust, and with whom you feel comfortable sharing intimate details about your finances and marriage. Be sure to ask how your attorney will communicate with you about updates in your case, and how you can contact them with any questions or concerns you may have.
If you need compassionate, thorough, and effective legal help with your New Jersey divorce, contact the Englewood family law attorneys at Herbert & Weiss for a consultation on your case, at (201) 500-2151.