Questions To Ask Your Divorce Attorney At Your First Consultation

Once you have finally made up your mind of separating from your spouse, the next step for you is to zero in on a proficient divorce attorney who would handle your lawsuit. An expert professional attorney is the one who can furnish you with the intricacies of your state family laws and guide you through your litigation effectively. Although, after an initial consultation, an attorney provides you an overview of the law and its specifics to your case, but it is your obligation to ask him questions regarding various aspects of your case that might concern you. 

How long has he or she been practicing family law?

It is a no brainer that there is no substitute for sound experience. It almost always helps if your lawyer has been in the industry for a sizeable amount of time, since it implies that he knows the local rules, the judges and the other lawyers like the back of his hand. In many cases, there are lawyers who have a huge experience in practicing general law but have only recently taken a plunge into the family law. The fact that a good general lawyer might not be able to handle a divorce case with the same proficiency implies that he also needs to have a sound experience in this specific field. 

How many such cases has he taken to trial?

Since many a times the divorce lawsuits have to be taken to court for further proceedings, a good experience in actual courtroom trials is critical to the proficiency of a divorce lawyer. It is one thing to have dealt with divorce petition, and another to have actually indulged in court room trials. Plenty of the cases reach out of court settlements, and therefore there will be many lawyers who would actually feel inept at taking cases to the court. Although you need to refrain from hiring an attorney who has a reputation of taking all his cases to the court in a bid to make quick bucks, it is always better to go for someone who has a good experience in it. 

What will the approximate charges for the case be?

Despite the fact that no attorney will be able to quote an exact bill amount for your specific case, it is always best to take an idea of what the litigation entails. There are several clients who need more legal guidance or services, and might be charged more than the ones who don’t. However, an experienced divorce attorney will be able to forecast an approximate range that cases such as yours would typically cost.

It is always best advised to pen down the list of questions that you need to ask your attorney on your first consultation, to avoid missing out on any of the major aspects that might concern you later.

Getting divorced in California can be complicated.  Download our free eBook, 18 Important Things to Know About California Divorce to educate yourself on the process.  

Gerald A. Maggio is an experienced Orange County divorce and family law lawyer and family law attorney located in Irvine, California, serving the Orange County and Riverside areas. Mr. Maggio assists clients with legal issues including divorce, legal separation, divorce mediation, child custody, prenuptial agreements, stepparent adoptions, and other family law issues. Mr. Maggio has practiced law in California since 1999, and founded The Maggio Law Firm in 2005, focusing exclusively on divorce and family law matters.