5 Tips for Choosing a Divorce Attorney

by Kevin Smith Author

Going through a divorce is one of the most difficult things anyone should have to experience. The heartbreak, pain, and disruption it causes can only be worth it because the alternative is even worse. If you're going through a divorce, the last thing you want is to have an unsatisfactory divorce lawyer, so it's crucial you make the right choice. But how? While looking for the best divorce attorney in San Antonio, Texas, here are a few things you should consider.

1. Be Engaged

As you look for that ideal divorce attorney, keep in mind, you will always be your best advocate. It's important that you make the effort to find the right attorney not just because the choice is so important, but it will keep you engaged with every detail of your divorce, and you'll need to keep that same attention to detail as you proceed with your new attorney.

2. Interview Three Attorneys

You'll likely be tempted to go with the first attorney you meet because you just want to get the process over with. Don't do it. Take your friend's and family's recommendations, and meet with at least three attorneys. Their hearts are in the right place, but just because a lawyer worked for them doesn't mean they will work for you.

3. Is This the Right Attorney for You?

You'll have to make regular contact with your divorce lawyer perhaps even for years, so you'll need a healthy working relationship. Don't expect them to be your friend or counselor, but you'll need to be able to share intimate details of your life with them in a comfortable fashion. Do you like their answers to your questions? Do they typically settle or go to court? These are the kinds of things you'll need to know before making a decision.

4. The Cost

You'll need to know up front the attorney fees. They should willingly provide a fee schedule, so stay clear of any lawyer who doesn't. You'll need to pay the retainer up front, so prepare yourself for that.

5. How Do They Work With Other Professionals?

You won't just need the lawyer. You'll need your CPA to manage your finances in coordination with the attorney. If you don't have a CPA or a financial advisor, sometimes the attorney has people they can refer you to.

Besides yourself, your divorce attorney is the best advocate on your behalf, so you'll want to be sure you're choosing the best divorce attorney in San Antonio, Texas.