Questions to Ask Your Florida Divorce Lawyer
When you are gearing up for a divorce, hiring the right family law attorney is one of your most important tasks. It is also one of the most daunting. Before you sign a retainer agreement, you will have an initial consultation with your potential legal representative. During that first meeting or call, you can ask all of the important questions about the attorney, their qualifications, and whether they will be the best legal advocate for you. Below, the seasoned Florida divorce attorneys at the Law Office of Scott Glassman, P.A. offer suggestions on what questions to ask and topics to broach during your initial consultation.
Are You General Practice or Focused on Family Law?
It is as true in law as it is in any other area of business or life: “A jack of all trades is a master of none.” If you have a difficult family law matter, you should retain a lawyer or law firm that focuses its practice on family law. Do not settle for a personal injury lawyer who merely takes on the occasional divorce; find a lawyer who knows the ins and outs of Florida divorce and family law.
Do You Have Experience With My Special Issues?
If you have a family law matter that involves special, complex issues, you will want an attorney well-equipped to provide you with the best representation. If you are pursuing a high-asset or high-net-worth divorce, if you are a celebrity, if you or your spouse are in the military, if you or your spouse live overseas, or if your divorce involves any other special issue, you need a Florida divorce lawyer who has the experience necessary to effectively represent your interests.
Do You Have Trial Experience?
Ideally, divorces and other matters can be resolved through settlement. If settlement talks break down, however, there may be a trial. Effectively litigating a trial requires its own set of skills, beyond simple knowledge of the law. Make sure your family law attorney is ready to take your case as far as it needs to go for you to get the result you deserve.
Do You Handle Appeals?
Not every case can be resolved through settlement, and not every decision of the Court will be in your favor. If the Court made an error, you might want to pursue an appeal. Not all family law firms have experience handling appeals. It can be helpful to retain a firm that has an attorney who has the experience and knowledge to handle your appeal, should the occasion arise.
What is Your Fee Structure?
One of the first questions our clients usually ask is: “How much will the divorce cost?” Several factors affect the cost of a divorce, and one significant element is the attorney’s fee structure. Do they charge by the task or by the hour? How much do they charge for attorney work as opposed to paralegal work? A good lawyer will be transparent with how their fee structure works, and their bills will give a clear and accurate breakdown of how their fees were generated.
Who Will be Working on My Case?
Many law firms employ a number of partners, associates, and paralegals. Letting younger attorneys handle the more straightforward and simple matters can be a beneficial learning experience for younger attorney’s, but as the client, you should know who will be responsible for your case. If you have a lot on the line, you want someone with years of experience in your corner, not someone who is still figuring things out. Moreover, if a junior associate or paralegal is handling part of your case, then you should expect a lower hourly fee for those tasks. In your initial consultation, ask your attorney about who will be working on your case and in what capacity, and make sure that you are comfortable with any division of labor.
Can You Help Me Understand the Tax Implications and Other Effects of My Divorce?
Divorces affect more than just your last name and who gets the house. During or after your divorce you will need to start filing taxes separately, you will need to change the beneficiaries for your insurance policies, and you will need to make a number of other important financial and logistical decisions. Find an attorney who can walk you through the additional consequences of your divorce so that you are prepared to take on whatever may come in this new chapter of your life.
Trusted Advice and Representation From a Dedicated Palm Beach Divorce Attorney
If you are considering divorce in Florida, you deserve a family law attorney who is right for you. The passionate divorce attorneys at the Law Office of Scott Glassman, P.A. have more than 60 years of combined experience helping Florida family law clients get the results they deserve. For help with a divorce in Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, or statewide, call the Law Office of Scott Glassman, P.A. at 561-688-5006 today!
