7 Questions to Ask Your Potential Divorce Lawyer in Madison, WI

 Posted on October 16, 2020 in Uncategorized

If you are thinking about divorcing your spouse, you surely have a lot on your mind.

The end of a marriage is challenging in so many ways and it is never easy for anyone involved.

You'll need a divorce lawyer to get the job done, but do you know how to find the right one? You will want the process to be as easy and as unstressful as possible.

If you're looking for a divorce lawyer in Madison, WI, or anywhere in the United States, read on. Check out this list of questions to ask any potential divorce lawyers you consider. It will help you determine which of them will be a good fit for you and your situation. These questions will guide you to make the hiring of a divorce lawyer far easier and more bearable.

How to Find a Divorce Lawyer

When it comes to finding a divorce lawyer, many people have no idea where to begin. One way to find a great one is by asking close friends or colleagues for recommendations. If you wish to keep your pending divorce private for now, you can find local divorce attorney listings through a simple online search.

In either case, once you have a few names written down, you can read online reviews to get a better idea of the personalities and successes of the lawyers on your list. From there, you can create a shortlist of three to five attorneys to call or meet with one-on-one to learn more.

When you speak with the lawyers on your shortlist, it will be helpful to ask them the same questions. That way, it will be easy to compare them with one another.

Questions to Ask a Divorce Lawyer

It might help you to make a chart or spreadsheet of your potential lawyers' responses to the following questions. Organizing their information in this manner will make it easy to choose among them. In the end, if two or more seem very similar to you, it will come down to your gut feeling about the men and women with whom you met to determine which attorney feels like the best fit.

1. What types of law do you practice?

Some lawyers specialize in one specific type of law; others are generalists. Most people find that they prefer to hire attorneys who specialize in family and divorce law when getting divorced. The reasons for this are simple. Family and divorce lawyers are focused on family law in particular, and as a result, they are well aware of the ins and outs of this type of law. They have likely spent a great deal of time in the courtroom handling family law matters and this will help your proceedings to progress quickly and smoothly.

2. How long have you been practicing?

Another great question to ask a potential divorce lawyer in Madison, WI or anywhere is how long he or she has been practicing law. This will give you a good idea about how experienced he or she is. That doesn't mean that a newer lawyer won't do a good job; however, if you believe that your divorce may be complicated, you may want to hire someone who has been in the field for longer.

3. How much will my divorce cost?

Before you go very far with any lawyer, you will want to discuss his or her fee structure. The cost of a lawyer's services and hourly fees can vary greatly based on a number of factors. You don't want to hire a lawyer that you can't afford, but you also want to get the best lawyer for your money. The answer to this question can be very helpful in deciding which lawyer to choose.

4. What happens next and how long will my divorce take?

It's likely that you have not been divorced before, so you may not know anything about the divorce process. A good lawyer will be able to explain it to you with clarity and should be more than happy to answer any questions that you have. The duration of divorce proceedings can vary based on what state you live in and the complexity of your situation, but any lawyer should be able to give you an estimate of how long your case will take from start to finish if you choose to work with him or her.

5. How will we communicate about my case?

In this day and age, there are many different ways to communicate with others. Some people enjoy meeting face-to-face, some enjoy communicating by telephone, and still others prefer written communication via email. In order for your relationship with your lawyer to work well for both of you, you need to be on the same page about communication methods. Ask potential attorneys about how they will reach you, and how often you can expect to hear from them throughout the process.

Also, find out how quickly they can commit to answering your questions as they arise along the way. You don't want to be stuck waiting to hear back about an important and life-changing issue during your divorce process.

6. What are our peaceful, court-free options?

If both you and your spouse are in agreement about your divorce and your assets are not complicated, you may be able to divorce without even going to court. Ask your potential lawyer about the options in this realm if you are interested in going this route. If a potential lawyer seems deadset on going to court even after you express your desire to avoid that, then he or she is not the lawyer for you.

7. Will you personally handle my case?

Many law firms have a number of lawyers who work with clients. Once you have met with a specific lawyer and have decided that you like him or her, make sure that you will be working with that lawyer exclusively. You don't want to be disappointed if the law firm ends up switching lawyers on you after you have already begun to pay them.

Find a Great Divorce Lawyer in Madison, WI

If you are looking for a divorce lawyer in Madison, WI, we would love to sit down with you to go over these questions. We may or may not be the right fit for you but we would love to help you find out. Give us a call today. We can't wait to hear from you.