Divorce is an eventuality no newly married couple is eager to consider. However, with 1 out of 3 Australian marriages ending in a divorce, weighing your options early on may be wise. Divorce lawyers aren't just the professionals tasked with the paperwork of your divorce. Divorce lawyers will also help you protect your assets, make satisfactory child custody agreements with your ex-partner, and prepare your case for divorce court. In some cases, they may also provide guidance on whether to finalise a divorce or end a period of separation by giving the marriage another chance. Here are a few things you should look for in a reliable divorce lawyer.
Skill And Experience Are Primordial
A divorce is likely to impact all areas of your life. From your family life to your finances, your expected retirement age to the home you live in, your divorce may change your life entirely. To best guide you through the process, your lawyer should have enough experience to deal with all the particular complexities of your case. They need to be able to attest, through records of past cases, that they have dealt with varied situations and that some were similar to yours.
Your lawyer will need experience in dealing with clients of similar net worth, familial situations and custodial desires as you have. If you are likely to enter into a high-conflict divorce (in which your partner and yourself want entirely different things), you will also want a divorce lawyer with mediation experience. This means that when working with large firms likely to assign you a lawyer, you need to conduct your research and make specific requests for the professionals whose track records are most suitable.
Composure And Resources Can Make The Lawyer
Surprises and major upsets can happen in divorces, particularly in hostile separations or when being taunted or provoked in court. Your chosen lawyer will need to be able to maintain their cool in high-pressure situations by remaining focused and professional, even when frustrated. During your initial consultation, you should look for signs of a patient, calm character so you can be confident your lawyer will not take it personally if things do not go your way, as this can compromise the rest of your case.
It is common for lawyers to have to reschedule appointments or to not be available to answer all your questions immediately. Therefore, a reliable lawyer will have support staff who will be able to assist you in all your immediate queries or in case of an emergency. This staff should have a degree of law training to act as your lawyer's voice when they are unavailable.
To learn more, contact a lawyer.
