Questions To Ask An OC Divorce Lawyer Before Retaining

The process of selecting the most qualified divorce lawyer and that you feel comfortable to handle your divorce litigation can be quite stressful and overwhelming. However, if you are aware of the right approach to assessing the lawyers’ capabilities, you might not have such a hard time deciding upon whether to hire him or not. We are listing a few questions you might want to ask your lawyer in order to determine whether he is suitable for your case or not.

Does he or she handle cases other than divorce or family law?

The first major question to ask your lawyer is about the areas of law that he or she practices. The significance of this question lies in the fact that the more diverse a lawyer’s practice is, the less dedicated he would be in handling divorce related lawsuits. It is important to hire an attorney who specializes in divorce litigation, since he tends to have more in depth experience of the court room proceedings of family law. 

How long has he or she been practicing family law?

The second question aims at determining the level of experience an attorney has, in handling family law litigation. There are lawyers who have been practicing for years on end but have very little experience of dealing with an actual court room proceeding. It is utmost important for a divorce litigator to have a sound experience in court room trails, to be adept at dealing with your divorce lawsuit which might eventually end up in a court. 

Who will handle the case and how will the tasks be delegated?

This particular question is important to understand the answer to.  You need to know if the attorney that you are meeting with for a consultation will be the attorney handling your case, or whether your case will be handed down to an associate.  It is also important to know what staff will be involved, i.e. paralegal or legal assistant, etc., so that you know that your case will be dealt with in a systematic way.  

How will they charge you?

California law states that in cases where the attorney fees and litigation charges are expected to cross north of $1,000, the attorney or the law firm needs to furnish a written retainer agreement listing out the exact hourly rate and the other billing information in detail. It is important to understand your billing-related details such as the initial retainer, hourly rate(s), due date for payments and any other pertinent charges that might be applicable.

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.