Choosing the Best Divorce Lawyer for Your Case

When you go to court about something as important as family, you want to know you can trust the attorney standing beside you. Choosing the best divorce lawyer for your case isn’t just a matter of reading online reviews or looking at an attorney’s biography. You need to have faith in your attorney-client relationship, and know your lawyer is looking out for you and your children.

What Makes the Best Divorce Lawyer?

Not every lawyer is right for every client. Your needs, practically, legally, and emotionally, can impact how well you fit and your comfort with a particular attorney. There are many factors to consider when choosing the best divorce lawyer for your needs and your case. What makes the best divorce lawyer is as much about compatibility and approach, as it is about skill and experience - though all of these things matter.

Litigation and Negotiation Style

Different attorneys and law firms take different approaches to family law and litigation. Some firms focus on building your strongest case in court, aggressively going after discovery and filing motions to protect you, your children, and your interests. These tactics are sometimes crucial, especially where there is an imbalance of power between spouses, such as domestic violence cases and when there is a large financial disparity.

However, for other families, the priority isn’t to win in court, but to find a resolution to their custody, visitation, and support concerns in a way that minimizes conflict and promotes respect. If out-of-court resolution is your priority, but you hire a hard-edged litigation attorney, your selection of lawyer now could make living and working with your co-parent harder in the future.

At the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram, we strive to tailor our litigation and negotiation style to meet each clients’ individual needs. We offer traditional litigation, mediation, and collaborative divorce options, so you can pursue the best strategy for you and your family.

Communication & Accessibility

Communication is key when choosing the best divorce lawyer for your case. These days, there are many different ways to communicate and share information with your lawyer. Still, all too often, people coming to us mid-case or post-judgment tell us that they didn’t feel heard by their prior attorney. Communication is not just about the manner in which information is exchanged, it also demands trust. You need to be confident that you can tell your divorce lawyer anything, even if it is harmful to your case. If you and your lawyer have different communication styles, this trust may be difficult. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your attorney or don’t feel heard by your attorney, then he or she may not be the best divorce attorney for you. Keep in mind, advocacy requires your attorney to share his or her legal opinion about the possible outcomes in your case - at times these opinions may be hard for you to hear.

You should be able to reach your attorney or their staff easily and expect timely responses to questions. This does not mean that you should expect that your lawyer will be available to answer your questions at all times of day or night. During your initial consultation, ask about what happens when your lawyer is sick or goes on vacation, and how best to reach your legal team if you need help right away. Make sure you can meet with your lawyer at times and in a location that works for your schedule. The best divorce attorneys will also keep you updated about what is happening, so you can prepare and assist in putting together your best case.

At our office, we try to respond to calls and communications within 24-hours during the work week, or the next business day. Frequently, we respond to calls and e-mails sooner than the next business day, but a lot depends upon the demands of our schedule at the time of your inquiry.

Cost and Billing

The truth is hiring a divorce attorney is not, and should not be cheap. You want a legal team that works efficiently and that will give your case the individual attention it deserves - this takes time and it will cost money. However, you have the right to not be surprised by an attorney fee bill you can’t afford. Some law firms offer flat fee or periodic billing arrangements that can help you manage the cost of your legal fees. Be certain to discuss your budget and your payment needs with your attorney during the initial consultation to find the best divorce lawyer for your case. Make sure you read and understand your lawyer's retainer agreement. Does your lawyer charge by the hour? What are the hourly rates? What are the billable hour increments? What types of things are you billed for? These things should be clearly spelled out in your Attorney-Client Agreement.

Knowledge and Experience

Perhaps it goes without saying that good divorce attorneys have knowledge and experience in family law and can advise you on the legal aspects of your case. However, choosing the best divorce lawyer for your case means asking if they have specific experience with the legal issues in your case, such as:

• Family-owned businesses
• High-asset divorce
• Adoption and custody issues
• Blended families
• Prenuptial agreements

This is one of the reasons why it is so important that you talk about the details of your case in an initial consultation. By bringing the legal issues out early, you will get a better sense of whether the attorney has the knowledge and experience to help you. Lawyers wear many hats, but they do not know all things. If your lawyer doesn’t know the answer to your question, does he or she have a network of referral sources or the ability to connect you with someone that does? Your lawyer should be able to provide you with referrals to a mortgage broker; a realtor; an accountant; a tax-preparer; an investment advisor; or a therapist - amongst others. Is your lawyer willing to research an issue on your behalf?

What if I Disagree With My Divorce Attorney?

Sometimes, the law is against you. You may want something from your divorce that a judge cannot give you, or that your attorney knows will not be well-received by your spouse or the Court. In these cases, your attorney may give you advice you don’t like and don’t want to hear. You may disagree with a lawyer's advice, but they are required to apply the law to your facts using their independent professional judgment. The best divorce lawyers should always explain the reasons behind their advice and help you consider alternatives, rather than just telling you something cannot happen.

In choosing the best divorce lawyer for your case, if you provide the same facts to several attorneys, each lawyer will apply his or her independent analysis to your facts. You may find that there are differences in application of the law and assessment of how the facts would be considered by the Court. If, at the end of the day, you and your attorney cannot see eye to eye, you can choose to retain a different lawyer. However, if you must change lawyers mid-case it can increase the overall costs, because your new counsel will need to get up to speed on everything the last attorney has done.

If you do not agree with the manner in which your lawyer has interpreted the law and the facts in your case or the strategy he or she has recommended, get a second opinion. Sometimes a second opinion will confirm that your current counsel is not the best match for your needs. Other times, a second opinion will give you reassurance that your counsel is proceeding in a prudent manner. If you have a family law dispute that requires that you hire an attorney, it is often because you need guidance and are unsure about how to proceed or advocate for yourself. It is important that you feel confident in following the advice of your counsel and that you understand the reasons for the advice - even when you disagree.

Find Out if We are the Best Maryland Divorce Lawyer for You

At the Law Office of Shelly M. Ingram, our divorce attorneys want you to work with the best divorce lawyer for your case. We will meet with you and discuss your expectations, our methods, payment options, and the legal issues in your case to help you determine if our firm is the right fit for you. Call (301) 658-7354 or contact us today to schedule a consultation with an attorney.