Divorce is a difficult enough process without having to worry about the reputation of the divorce lawyers, too. There is a definite need for anyone planning a divorce to check the reputation of lawyers rather than just looking in the telephone book and choosing one for the wrong reasons. What are the wrong reasons for choosing a divorce lawyer? Some of the most common reasons people choose a lawyer without researching include any number of the following:
- Locality
- Gender (yes, some people actually choose a lawyer because of the gender, especially when there are children involved)
- Fee structure
- Availability
- Other information included in advertisements
Instead of attempting to choose them based on general information you should seek them out based on their reputation. It is easy enough to research their reputation, but you should try to talk to people who have used any of the Fairfax divorce lawyer you are considering. The information you obtain from present or former clients will certainly be more accurate that what you might obtain by conducting an online search or contacting the Bar Association of the state in which they practice.
When you are researching about them, there are several things you want to learn. Some of the important things you need to know about them you are considering include the following:
- Fee structure compared to other lawyers in the general area
- Satisfaction of other clients the lawyer has represented
- How ethical the lawyer is-while you want someone who can obtain the highest (or lowest depending on which side of the fence you’re on) settlement, you don’t want someone who does it illegally or unethically
- Has the lawyer ever come before the Bar Association for charges of fraud or unethical behavior? How was the case resolved?
- Has the one you’re considering represented anyone in your soon-to-be ex-spouse’s family or one of his/her friends? This may open the possibility of conflict of interest or favoritism; choose a lawyer that can represent you without bias.
The reputation of any divorce lawyer Fairfax VA you choose should be uppermost in your mind. You don’t want to have to worry later whether the settlement you receive will be overturned because your divorce lawyer failed to conduct a proper valuation of marital property or business assets. When you leave the courtroom after your divorce has been granted, you want to feel confident that nothing can go wrong.
There is always the potential your ex-spouse will be unhappy and attempt to contest the terms of the divorce, but you don’t want him or her to win the argument because your divorce lawyer failed to properly do the job you hired him or her to do. Even if it takes extra time to research about them, you owe it to yourself to choose someone who will fight for your best interests when you go to court and on whom you can depend for proper legal advice if it should be necessary at some time in the future.
