5 Questions To Ask When Hiring An Attorney For Your Divorce

bullet imagebullet imageEven the best divorce is stressful. The change may be a good one, but most people find that starting over is challenging. If there are children involved, they may be acting out their own fears and worries.

But the divorce is going to happen, so it's time to hire a divorce lawyer. People seldom question professionals as to their backgrounds. They might notice the school someone graduated from if there's a framed diploma on the wall, but that is usually the extent of it. In this case, many of the day-to-day decisions of a new life will be affected by provisions in the divorce agreement, so it's important to ask questions and choose the best lawyer.

1. Is it Important to Hire a Lawyer Who Focuses on Divorce Cases?

In any field, it's almost always best to find someone whose expertise is in the area of interest. If someone had a brain tumor, they wouldn't be looking for an orthopedic surgeon, no matter how good the orthopedic surgeon was at repairing knee problems. It's better to find a lawyer who spends his or her time on divorce cases, rather than using a lawyer who does a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

2. How long has the Lawyer Been Handling Primarily Divorce Cases?

It's possible that the attorney used to handle business law and has only been dealing with divorce law more recently. The easiest way to find out is to ask.

3. How Will the Case be Handled?

This has a lot to do with the size of the law firm. If the lawyer is a sole practitioner, then the lawyer will definitely be representing you in court. However, the lawyer may also have so many cases that they are seldom available to speak to.


Lawyers who work with large firms have backup in case of emergencies. The senior attorneys are normally the ones who go to court while less experienced attorneys prepare the paperwork in the office.

4. Who Will be the Person to Contact?

The person to call with routine questions will probably be someone other than the attorney. Many questions (such as confirming a court date) do not need a lawyer's input. When it's necessary to speak with a lawyer, a sole practitioner may be tied up in court much of the time and unavailable.

5. How Much Should the Divorce Cost and What Will be Billed?

A flat rate can be appealing, but may indicate that the lawyer doesn't expect to do much work. Normally, it's necessary to know the hourly rate, what costs will be incurred and how much the initial deposit will be.

Franklin Divorce Lawyers will be there to protect your rights throughout the divorce. If children are involved, their best interests will be a priority. Visit the website to contact the attorneys and schedule an appointment.