5 Things To Consider First Before Hiring A Divorce Attorney In NSW
Divorce proceedings are a somewhat complex process, and it’s not uncommon for the whole endeavour to turn murky. Divorce in NSW is granted to those who want to legally end their marriages and have reasons to do so. For those about to embark on the process of a divorce, having a divorce attorney in the corner can make the whole process less overwhelming.
Although the NSW government has various resources to help spouses going through a divorce or wanting to get one, finding a competent divorce attorney is helpful. But, clients need to understand some things first.
- Is The Attorney Easy To Communicate With? Attorneys must make their clients as comfortable as possible, and they must be easy to deal with and communicate with. Clients must be able to trust that these attorneys have their best interests in mind, and the more they get along with them, the easier it is to deal with the hassle of the divorce proceedings together. Have an initial interview set up and have a face-to-face to gauge how communicative they are and whether they are fully involved in the conversation. The initial reactions of the client will reflect how they feel working with the attorney for the rest of the case. If the client does not feel confident about their divorce attorney, they can move on to the next one.
- Years Of Experience: Divorce in NSW can be a long and drawn-out process if the divorce attorney doesn’t have enough experience to handle them. Always hire divorce lawyers who have years of experience working with divorce cases. They must also have a good list of successful cases that they’ve handled and an excellent track record.
- The Lawyer Must Come With Recommendations And Referrals: The best divorce attorneys in NSW will always have quite a reputation among colleagues and clients who have worked with them before. In this case, word-of-mouth is good enough to find the best divorce lawyers. If these lawyers have a lot of success stories, they will come highly recommended by the people who have seen them in action. Clients will want to have lawyers that are confident, adept in family law and competent in handling court matters, so don’t hold back when it comes to hiring the right one.
- They Must Be Experts In Family Law: Although this is an obvious point to consider, it still can’t be stressed enough. Divorce lawyers must be well-versed in NSW divorce laws, family issues and custody proceedings. Having another set of reliable skills like negotiation will come in handy in court. All in all, lawyers should be adept professionals who can hold their image in court. After all, they represent the clients, and hence, they must be able to defend the client’s best interests.
- Budget: Hiring a divorce lawyer in NSW can drain the finances, and so is going through all the court proceedings and the myriad of all the other legalities. But that doesn’t mean clients should not spend money on good lawyers. Clients must set a budget, stick to it, and not go overboard with spending. Different attorneys charge differently. Some may ask for a retainer; others may want a small percentage of the divorce settlement, and many charge hourly fees. During the initial interview, clients may ask how much the whole proceedings will cost and then fix a budget around that information. Whatever the case may be, don’t ever go for inexperienced lawyers who charge less and make over-the-top promises. Reputed and experienced lawyers are always well worth the money they charge.