Before you hire a divorce attorney, you should call or meet with them to discuss your case and ask a few questions. Wondering what to ask a divorce lawyer before hiring them? Here are the three most important questions, along with a few follow-up’s for each. Don’t be content speaking with just one lawyer either. You should call at least 2-3 options before making a final choice. The differences between them should quickly become clear. Here’s what to ask in your call or meeting.

How Long Have You Been Practicing?

A lawyer’s experience is critical for putting together strong cases and winning you the best deal possible. However it also has other ramifications, like their relationships with other attorneys & judges, knowledge of local rules and case law, and experience handing specialty cases. You should ask specifically how long they’ve practiced family law and divorce cases. We’ve been doing it for more than 25 years, exclusively.

What Will the Total Cost Be?

You want to gauge how honest and open your lawyer is in their answer here. Depending on how forthright they are, ask a few follow up questions so you have a complete picture of the cost, how it’ll be paid, and when. Here are few example questions to consider:

• Do you charge an hourly rate or a fixed cost?
• Is there an upfront retainer you charge?
• How much is the retainer, if you have one?
• Is the retainer refundable?
• Do you bill for sending and reading emails?

How Do You Communicate with Clients?

Since we mentioned emails, good communication between a lawyer and their client is super important. You should dedicate time learning how the attorney works with their clients. How soon do they get back to a client after receiving a phone call or email message? Are they able to do video conferencing right now, and can they share documents and gather information online? Today, data security is more important than ever, so make sure you ask how they protect their emails and other digitally shared information.

What to Ask a Divorce Lawyer Before Hiring Them

It isn’t easy to interview a divorce lawyer – you’re not sure what questions matter, and what to look for. These questions should provide you a good starting point to get the info you need in selecting an attorney. If you’d like to learn more about us as an option, visit our contact page to set up a free call today! Looking for more resources? Here’s another great blog on what to ask a divorce lawyer before hiring them.