Let us start with don’ts:
- Don’t hire a divorce lawyer in Los Angeles who asks for a large non-refundable fee.
- Don’t rely just on friends or acquaintances for the names of prospective attorneys.
- Don’t obtain a courtroom heavy hitter in the belief that by doing so you will be able to overpower your spouse’s counsel—the court can and will order the deep pocketed spouse to help pay for the attorney of the spouse without funds or who has less.
- Don’t hire a lawyer who dabbles in divorce law
- Don’t hire an attorney connected to a divorce mill, which is an attorney or firm that relies on numerous paralegals to prepare cases for hearings or trial.
- What is a divorce mill? It is when your initial interview is with a powerful person—the owner or a name partner. After the initial meeting, your papers are prepared exclusively by paralegals or associates. Experts are interviewed and employed by paralegals or associates. Your interrogatory answers and questions are prepared by paralegals or associates. Your spouse and other witnesses may be deposed by an associate lawyer. The owner or partner appears at the hearings. Even if Mr. Big is prepared he is not familiar with the particular file and cannot discuss settlement in a cogent manner. He or she does not have time to review each file and engage in fruitful settlement discussions. In a divorce mill your file is in a “factory” of trial preparation. This is not in your best interest. You need to hire a lawyer who will prepare the files with the help of one or two other attorneys and will be familiar with the status of your case at all times; and be willing and able to begin settlement discussions at reasonable intervals. An attorney must prepare for trial, but for your dissolution to be cost effective your attorney must make reasonable settlement offers at sensible intervals.)
Do’s for hiring a Divorce Lawyer, Los Angeles:
- Interview more than one divorce attorney
- Encourage your spouse to obtain competent counsel
- Ask questions at the initial interview to determine the attorney’s familiarity with local practice (Divorce lawyers in Los Angeles are familiar with the state laws and the local system)
- Hire a divorce lawyer who will discuss settlement early and at intervals
- Hire an attorney who will do the substantive work on your file and therefore understand your file alone or with one or two other lawyers or paralegals
If you live in Los Angeles County and need a Los Angeles divorce lawyer, I have the knowledge and experience needed to help guide you through your divorce with as little stress as possible. I have been a Los Angeles divorce attorney for 20 years and I’m prepared to fight for you.
If you are in need of a Los Angeles divorce attorney, please call toll free at 800.486.6814 today!
Do’s And Don’ts For Hiring Divorce Lawyers in Los Angeles
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