Are you looking for a divorce lawyer in New York? Then read our guide for tips on finding the best divorce attorney for you…
“Every happy family is the same, but unhappy families are all different.” So begins the novel Anna Karenina by Leonid Tolstoy. The famous Russian’s insights may also apply to your divorce. You are going need a divorce lawyer who understands the individual and unique character of the dissolution of your marriage, even though divorce seems all too common these days.
What It Means to Be a Divorce Lawyer
Along with a concern for a client’s different and individual needs a competent divorce attorney also needs a good general understanding of the way people behave when they decide to sue for divorce or even when they seem to mutually and amicably agree that their marriage is at an end.
Problems that arise during a divorce or separation in New York and elsewhere often involve the following:
• custody of children
• division of property and other assets
• a surprising variety of miscellaneous legal issues that crop up as a divorce proceeding progresses
Divorce lawyers often handle the following related legal matters:
• Separation Agreements
• Mediation
• Collaborative Divorce – an alternative to traditional divorce
• Pre-Nuptial Agreements
• Post-Nuptial Agreements
What to Look for in a Divorce Lawyer
Any divorce lawyer that you hire should have a deep understanding of the complex nature of many divorce cases. You should be able to easily determine the educational and experiential levels of any lawyer you consider hiring. Another good indication of an able and experienced divorce lawyer is the team of individuals they employ to support their activities. All members of that team should treat you with courtesy and compassion at all times.
Additionally, team members or associates found in divorce attorney offices can include other professionals such as appraisers, forensic accountants and psychologists. You should be able to get a feel for how these people operate, possibly meet with them and have access to information regarding their professional credentials.
A New York divorce lawyer should be comfortable with dealing with clients throughout New York, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Manhattan. Divorce practices tend to have a smaller number of attorneys on staff than other law firms. The size of a divorce attorney’s practice should not be of much concern in your decision to employ a divorce lawyer.
Because of the personal and sensitive nature of divorce proceedings you may not have ready and verifiable evidence of a successful track record of settlements and verdicts that a divorce lawyer has been involved in. If you are able speak to former clients or use referrals – all the better. NewYork Magazine does offer an allegedly impartial annual guide to New York’s Best Lawyers that may be of some use.
Paying Your Divorce Attorney
Regardless of the nature of the legal proceedings connected to your divorce and the satisfaction you may have with the outcome of those proceedings, expect to pay your divorce lawyer for services rendered. Uncontested divorces are often charged for at a flat fee agreed to beforehand. Contested cases are typically charged for on an hourly basis. Many divorce attorneys offer their clients flexible payment plans.
