A Comprehensive Guide to Finding the Right Divorce Lawyer

Going through a divorce can be an extremely difficult and stressful time. Your entire life is about to change, and you’ll have many complicated decisions to make that will impact your future profoundly. That’s why finding the right divorce lawyer to represent you is so vitally important.

But with so many lawyers to choose from, how do you find the best one for your specific situation? This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the key steps to take when researching, interviewing, comparing, and ultimately deciding on the best divorce lawyer for you.

Determine Your Needs in a Divorce Lawyer

The first critical step is deciding what particular skills, experience, characteristics, and qualities you need in a divorce attorney based on your unique situation. Divorce law is a specialized field, and not all family lawyers are created equal.

There are many different types of divorce, and your specific circumstances will dictate the kind of advocate you need in your corner:

Contested Divorce

A contested divorce is when you and your spouse do not agree on important issues like property division, finances, child custody and support, alimony, and more. This type of divorce requires lawyers with strong negotiation skills who can argue persuasively in court on your behalf. If you and your ex are at loggerheads over major issues impacting your divorce settlement, look for an attorney experienced with high-conflict litigation.

Uncontested Divorce

In an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse are on the same page about how to divide assets equitably, share custody and child support responsibilities, and more. Uncontested divorces move through the court system much quicker. You’ll still need an attorney to prepare and file all the proper paperwork, advise you on the laws and your rights, and represent you in court, but you won’t need a high-conflict litigator.

High Net Worth Divorce

If you and your spouse have sizeable assets like multiple properties, luxury cars, valuable art collections, stakes in family businesses, and significant investments or stock options, you have a high net worth divorce. This often involves complex asset division and steep financial stakes for both parties, so you need an attorney extremely experienced in handling high net worth cases. Look for someone used to navigating financially complex divorce litigation.

International Divorce

Did you marry someone from another country? Are they trying to take your children abroad? An international divorce involves dealing with different sets of laws, treaties, and jurisdictions. You need a lawyer well-versed in international family law who can ensure your rights are protected, whether you’re divorcing abroad or against a foreign spouse in a U.S. court. Interview attorneys specifically experienced with international divorce cases.

Military Divorce

Active duty service members have different rules and regulations governing their divorce through the armed forces. There are complex military pensions, benefits, and child custody factors to consider. A lawyer experienced in military family law will understand how to secure you a fair divorce settlement under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

In addition to the type of divorce, carefully consider factors like:

• Do you have complex combined assets? Find an attorney experienced with property division laws who can ensure you get your fair share.
• Do you own a business or professional practice? You need someone who can accurately value and divide business assets while protecting your interests in any shared interests.
• Do you anticipate heated fights over child custody? Pick a lawyer who’s a skilled negotiator and litigator to secure the custody outcome you want.
• Are finances contentious? Choose a pit bull litigator used to high-stakes cases if your ex will be difficult about money or asset division.
• Does your ex have far deeper pockets than you? Make sure your lawyer has experience successfully representing lower income clients against wealthier parties.
• Do you have unique needs? For example, knowing divorce laws specific to same-sex couples, or experience handling cases involving domestic violence or infidelity.

Bottom line—the right lawyer for your situation will have the specific knowledge, experience, skills, and tenacity to secure you the absolute best and most favorable financial and family outcome possible in your divorce. Take time making this critically important assessment of your needs before proceeding.

Create a List of Prospects

Once you’ve determined your ideal criteria in a divorce lawyer, the next step is thoroughly researching prospects. Cast a wide net using multiple methods:

Get Referrals

Ask trusted friends, family members, colleagues, or your professional network if they know of any outstanding divorce attorneys they can recommend. Referrals from people who’ve successfully used the lawyer themselves are one of the best ways to find quality candidates with proven track records. If you don’t personally know anyone who’s been through divorce, broaden your circle by:

• Asking on neighborhood or local social media groups for referrals from strangers who’ve gone through divorce in your area.
• Calling respected family law attorneys in your area whom you find through online research, and asking for their professional recommendations even if they don’t personally handle divorce cases. Lawyers are familiar with the reputations and competencies of their local peers and can suggest who excels in specific aspects of divorce law.
• Contacting your state bar association’s lawyer referral service, which will match you with a qualified family law attorney.

Get recommendations from as many credible sources as possible – the more prospects to vet, the better! Make sure to ask detailed questions about the lawyer’s experience, strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and overall customer service when soliciting referrals.

Search Online Directories

Reputable online legal directories like SuperLawyers, Avvo, FindLaw, and others allow you to conveniently browse local divorce lawyers, read detailed professional biographies, and see validated client reviews all in one place.

These are excellent resources to find candidates and conduct initial due diligence research, but should be combined with other methods since profiles are self-reported. Always confirm credentials directly through your state bar association. Thoroughly read and assess reviews about responsiveness, knowledge, fees, and more. Compile a list of promising prospects with proven expertise to contact.

Consider Logistics

Along with experience and specialties, consider practical factors to narrow your search:

• Location – Look for someone geographically close to your home or office to minimize travel time for meetings. Avoid picking someone based on location alone though, as the nearest attorney may not be the best fit. If needed, look in a wider vicinity.
• Availability – Determine their office hours and policies about meeting after business hours or on weekends if your own schedule is inflexible. Also ask about their current workload – does the attorney have ample bandwidth to dedicate to your case in a timely manner? Or is their plate overflowing, risking your case being put on the back burner?
• Communication – Ask what communication channels (email, phone, text, web meetings, etc.) they use to keep clients updated. Do they personally provide ongoing status or delegate client outreach to paralegals?
• Price – Attorney fees can drastically vary. Do your homework to understand the typical rates in your area. Ask for free initial consultations with multiple lawyers before deciding.

Use all these factors to compile a list of 3-5 promising candidates to approach for further vetting. Cast a wide net in your search process to avoid overlooking quality options based on limited research.

Interview the Divorce Lawyers

Once you have a shortlist of prospects, set up initial consultations with each so you can thoroughly interview them and evaluate which is the best fit. Come prepared with a list of incisive questions:

Experience Questions

• How long have you practiced divorce and family law? Look for at least 5 years’ solid experience focused on divorce to ensure sufficient exposure to cases like yours. Avoid lawyers who dabble in several practice areas.
• How many divorce cases have you handled that are similar to mine? Ask for specifics relevant to your situation (high net worth, contested custody, international spouse, etc.) to ascertain if theirs matches your needs.
• What’s your settlement rate versus cases that have gone to litigation? An attorney who’s able to secure reasonable settlements quickly will save you money and stress.
• What’s your success record if a case goes to trial? Look for a high rate of favorable verdicts/rulings to know they’ll fight tooth and nail for you in court if needed.

Strategy Questions

• What’s your general approach—are you aggressive and ready to fight it out through hostile litigation at any cost? Or do you help parties come together through calm negotiation and mediation? Make sure their style matches your needs and personality.
• If mediation fails and litigation looks likely, what litigation tactics do you employ? Do you have any unique strategies that have worked to secure clients the outcomes they want? Look for creative thinking.
• How much of my case would you directly handle versus delegating to paralegals or junior attorneys at your firm? You want adequate contact time with the lead lawyer you’re hiring.

Logistics Questions

• Are you taking on new clients now or is your caseload at capacity? Ensure they actually have the bandwidth to dedicate to your case.
• How quickly do you return client calls or emails when I have questions? Look for same business day response as a minimum.
• What are your rates, retainer fees, and payment structure? Get specific written quotes from multiple lawyers.

Interview Style

Observe the attorney’s communication skills—do they listen attentively and respectfully? Are they compassionate or all business? Do they use lots of complex legalese or are able to explain things in simple terms? Make note of red flags like arrogance, defensiveness, distraction during your meeting.

Hiring a divorce lawyer is a major life decision. Go with your gut feeling on who “gets” you and whom you can trust to protect your best interests, both legally and emotionally.

Compare and Make a Decision

After completing the consultations, compare factors like expertise, strategy, pricing, and rapport to make your final selection:

Create a Comparison Table

Make a table listing the candidates and their vital stats in the following categories:

• Years of family law experience
• Settlement rate/litigation outcomes
• Case strategy approach
• Location, availability, response time
• Fees and billing structure
• Likeability and communication style

Filling out this table forces you to review each layer of information side-by-side to see who best fits your needs overall.

Ensure Affordability

Be realistic about your budget constraints. If finances are an issue, ask candidates about alternative or flat fee structures, payment plans, or pricing discounts. While cost is a factor, remember—you ultimately get what you pay for. Securing the best possible settlement is worth investing in quality representation.

Trust Your Intuition

This is a major life decision during an extremely stressful time. Go with your intuition in choosing someone you personally connect with, who makes you feel calm, focused, and empowered to make the best choices for your future.

Make an Informed Decision

Weigh all the logical factors like experience and pricing together with your gut sense of rapport. An attorney can be highly skilled, but still not a good match. Find the ideal balance for you.

Once you’ve selected your divorce lawyer, get the engagement agreement signed and submit their retainer fee to formally secure their services. This also makes you a priority client versus prospects still shopping around.

Conclusion

Going through a divorce is intensely difficult, but finding the right lawyer for your unique situation makes a tremendous difference in empowering you to move forward with confidence. Following these comprehensive steps will help ensure you have the strongest legal representation possible:

• Thoroughly assess your needs—the specifics of your divorce situation, assets involved, child factors, and the particular skills, experience, and temperament required from a lawyer as a result.
• Cast a wide net and research thoroughly using referrals, online directories, logistics considerations, and extensive consultation interviews. Take time upfront finding quality candidates.
• Interview lawyers in depth with strategic questions to gauge specialized experience, strategy, pricing, availability, and communication styles.
• Methodically compare your options side-by-side across all factors to decide who is the ideal fit.
• Make an informed decision based on expertise, affordability, and personal rapport. Trust your instincts here.
• Secure their services promptly once chosen so you become a priority client.

Going through proper due diligence to find the right divorce lawyer will pay dividends through reduced stress, favorable outcomes, and peace of mind knowing you have a knowledgeable professional fighting for your best interests. While divorce is never easy, having an experienced attorney whom you trust by your side will make a world of difference as you move forward into your new life chapter. You’ve got this!