Determining if you need a lawyer to help you through your divorce involves several factors. While you might think that you can handle this process on your own, there are many reasons why finding the right lawyer can make this process simpler for you, alleviate your stress, and save you money in the long run. Learn more about finding the right attorney here.
Connecticut Family Lawyer vs. Divorce Lawyer
In divorce cases, many people contact a family attorney or a divorce attorney to help them through the process. However, a family lawyer and a divorce lawyer are not necessarily the same thing, and understanding the distinction between the two may help you decide which one you would like to employ to help you with your divorce case. Understanding the jobs of each type of lawyer will also help you to understand what you should expect from your lawyer as well as how they can specifically help you.
A divorce lawyer can be described as a specific type of family lawyer. A divorce lawyer deals solely with divorce cases and will represent one spouse in civil court. A family lawyer deals with any legal issue between related people, including but not limited to divorce. Other cases that a family lawyer may become involved in include adoption, question of paternity, juvenile delinquents or custody issues, the emancipation of minors, etc. As a result of the various types of cases that a family lawyer can represent, this type of lawyer may have a broad knowledge of many different legal matters. This can be a positive or negative aspect of the family lawyer, because they many not have as much in depth knowledge of specific divorce cases, however they may be able to help in paternity cases or custody battles.
Why Hire a Divorce Lawyer?
If you want to do everything in your power to file for divorce successfully, you need a divorce lawyer to help you through the process and advocate for you. Think about it. If you have foot pain, you’re going to make an appointment with a podiatrist, not a gynecologist. You need a doctor that specializes in foot care in order to get the best treatment. While a gynecologist or some other type of doctor probably has some general knowledge concerning foot problems, if you want to best treatment, you see a doctor that specializes in foot care.
It’s the same with lawyers. While it’s true that lawyers can work on many different kinds of cases, most lawyers specialize in a few types of law, making them experts in these cases. If you want to file for divorce, you don’t want to retain a lawyer that deals mostly with personal injury cases. This lawyer can do the research necessary to represent you in court, but they won’t have experience in divorce cases. Some other type of lawyer might do a good job, but when the stakes are this high, “might” isn’t good enough.
Hiring a lawyer like this can help you get what you want. You’re only going to find a lawyer with this much knowledge, experience, and passion if they specialize in divorce cases.
When Should I Hire a Divorce Lawyer?
Knowing when to hire a divorce lawyer can help ensure that your divorce goes smoothly. In general, you should get legal advice concerning a divorce as soon as possible. Deciding when to file for divorce can be complex, so it helps to have the opinion of someone that knows a lot about divorce law. A divorce lawyer can help you to determine when the right time to file for divorce is based on your personal situation.
On the other hand, if you have got served with divorce papers, this probably means that your spouse has already been thinking about divorce and gathering evidence to get what they want out of the divorce. At this point, you should immediately hire a lawyer so that your spouse does not take advantage of you by catching you off guard.
Questions to Ask a Divorce Lawyer
If you or your spouse is filing for a divorce, it is important that you contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Whether the divorce case is going to court or not, it is in your best interest to consult with a lawyer. Divorce in the state of Connecticut can be complex and difficult to understand, so in order to be sure that you have all of your questions answered, talking to a lawyer can be extremely helpful. A lawyer can also inform you of important information concerning the divorce, such as what you are entitled to, how long the process may take, and how you can fight to keep what you want.
When meeting with a lawyer you should have a list of questions prepared to ask. While every divorce case differs, you can find some important questions to ask here.
Credentials
Firstly, when you meet with your lawyer, you will want to check out their credentials. You may want to ask questions such as, “how much experiences do you how?”, “do you have any testimonials I can look at?” or “what is your success rate?” Feeling confident in your lawyer will help you lower the stress that goes along with the divorce process.
Your Divorce
Once you feel confident in your lawyer, you will want to start asking questions about the divorce process. Ask your lawyer what steps occur in the process and how long each step should take. Familiarize yourself with the Connecticut divorce laws and regulations and refer to your lawyer with any questions. Any questions that you have about the process should go to your lawyer – ask them if you will need to communicate with your spouse, how they plan on approaching the case, etc. You should also talk to your lawyer about any resources the law firm may have to make the process easier on you. You may also want to ask your lawyer if mediation works as an option that you should consider.
Fees
While these are all important questions to ask to help you feel more comfortable with the process of going through a divorce and to help you feel confident in your case and your lawyer’s abilities, you should also talk to your lawyer about practical things such as cost. Ask your lawyer how you will get charged and how expensive their services are. The last thing you want is to be charged with expensive bills that you were not anticipating from your lawyer.
Hiring a Divorce Lawyer
The fact of the matter is that there is no guarantee that a divorce lawyer will get you everything you want in the divorce. However, there are ways to make sure that you hire an attorney that cares about your case and is going to do everything in their power to make sure that you make the right decisions concerning your divorce at an affordable cost.
Consultations
Unfortunately, it’s not enough to just hire a divorce lawyer and be done with it. Not all divorce lawyers are the same. Some are dedicated and passionate, but some are mediocre. Some are affordable, while others are unreasonably expensive. Fortunately, there is one way that you can sort through the good, the bad, and the ugly before making a decision. Before you hire a lawyer, you can meet for an initial consultation to decide if they are the best lawyer for you.
Lawyers understand that hiring someone to represent you can be a difficult decision. For this reason, many lawyers offer a consultation in which you can meet with a lawyer and discuss your case. At this time, you can explain the situation that you are in to the lawyer and ask any questions that you have. A good lawyer will appear interested in your case and start planning out a strategy for your divorce during this initial consultation. If you want to know how experienced the lawyer that you are meeting with is, ask them about cases that they have worked on in the past.
Also consider client testimonials when trying to determine a lawyer’s knowledge and experience. If a particular lawyer’s website has a page dedicated to positive feedback from former clients, or if you get a referral from a friend, that lawyer likely does a good job.
Ask About Fees
Another great thing about a consultation is that you can ask about the lawyer’s fee during the meeting. If you ask about fees and the lawyer says something like, “We can discuss that later”, be careful. You don’t want to pay any hidden fees. If you meet with a lawyer that is upfront about costs, they probably don’t have any hidden fees and you can get a pretty good idea of what you will pay and if you can afford it.
Some lawyers are also flexible about payments and payment method. You also want to try to find a lawyer that charges a flat rate, as this means that you won’t have to pay by the hour. Instead, you just pay one fee for the whole process. This can cut down on costs.
Take advantage of consultations. This will allow you to interview several lawyers until you find the one that will be the most helpful for the most affordable price. Following these tips can ensure that you hire the best divorce lawyer possible. Next week, I will discuss whom you should hire as your Connecticut divorce lawyer.
Guardian Ad Litem vs. Attorney for a Child
In many divorce cases, the child of those getting a divorce must get represented somehow in court. Sometimes a judge will appoint a guardian ad litem to the child in order to make sure that the child’s voice gets heard in court. In other cases, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent the interests of a child. In some cases, both a guardian ad litem and an attorney are present in court to represent the child. But what is a guardian ad litem, and how does it differ from an attorney?
If you feel confused as to the roles that both of these representatives play, you are not alone. They can be similar in many ways, however, there are clear differences that set the guardian ad litem and the attorney apart from one another. Understanding these differences can help you make the best decision for your child.
Guardian Ad Litem
A guardian ad litem is someone appointed by the court to represent a child’s best interest in a particular divorce case. A guardian ad litem will investigate the family situation in order to fully understand how to represent the child. Once research occurs on the family situation, a guardian ad litem will form an objective opinion as to the best option for the child. Based on the findings of the investigation, the guardian ad litem will then make a recommendation to the court as to where the child should live.
A guardian ad litem does not have to follow the wishes of the child. If the guardian decides that, for instance, the child’s father cannot provide a stable home for the child, he will explain this to the court, even if the child wishes to live with the father. A guardian ad litem becomes involved for the duration of the court process and sees the child through from beginning to end. The guardian ad litem makes a report to the court. They do not have any attorney-client relationships and nothing they receive can remain confidential. They are witnesses in court and allowed to testify.
Attorneys
An attorney hired or appointed to represent a child in a divorce case has some similar roles, but also some different roles. One of the biggest distinctions between a guardian ad litem and an attorney is that a guardian ad litem does not have to represent what a child wants, whereas an attorney does. The guardian ad litem’s job is to form his or her own opinion on the situation, while an attorney must advocate for what the child wants in court. If a child is too young to express his or her wishes, the attorney will have to form an opinion on what is in the child’s best interest, much like a guardian ad litem.
An attorney representing a child has an attorney-client relationship and the confidentiality privileges that accompany it. Guardian ad litems and attorneys are similar in many ways. However, they differ in that guardian ad litems do not have to represent what a child wants, while an attorney does. A guardian ad litem uses their own judgment in the case, while a lawyer usually follows the wishes of the child. If you need further assistance in discussing the particulars of your divorce or family situation, contact me by clicking here for a free consultation