The importance of having proper legal representation during a divorce cannot be overstated. It could help safeguard your interests and ensure you avoid costly mistakes that can have far-reaching consequences in your life.
An experienced divorce attorney can make all the difference, given that there is so much at stake. You are more likely to have a smooth divorce and end up with an equitable result after the dust settles if you have the necessary legal guidance. That being said, here is what you should expect from your divorce attorney:
Keeps you informed and updated
Your attorney should be in constant communication, providing you with frequent and timely updates on the status of your divorce. Your attorney should also be promptly advising you of the deadlines you need to meet to allow them to provide their best services. Having an objective legal analysis of everything can help you know where things stand at every stage and avoid any nasty surprises.
Offers you guidance on all aspects of the split
There may be several aspects to your divorce, such as custody and support of the children, property division or spousal support, among others. Understanding the legal technicalities at play in each of them can be overwhelming.
However, your attorney should effectively guide you through all these processes and advise on what you ought to do to protect your rights. This means your attorney should advise you on both the strengths and weaknesses of your case. Nothing is guaranteed in litigation, so beware of an attorney who is simply a “yes man” or one who promises you a result that seems amazing, but cannot explain how you will get that result.
Handles all the paperwork in a timely manner
Every divorce involves some paperwork, and your attorney should handle that for you without missing any deadlines. Timely court filings will avoid unnecessary delays that could potentially drag out your divorce. You also want an attorney who will handle your post-divorce filings, such as creation and submission of your retirement orders, in a timely manner.
Picking the right person for the job is perhaps the most crucial step in any divorce. You need someone who not only has your best interests at heart but is also well versed with the relevant laws to hold your hand through the entire divorce process. It is worth it to pay more for a highly qualified attorney on the front end than to try and cut costs at the beginning, only to incur exorbitant costs undoing the mistakes created by poor legal representation.
