Nobody goes into a marriage looking at the reality of divorce a few years down the road, but it happens with many marriages these days. The first thing you need to do is make sure that both you and your spouse have agreed that divorce is your best option. In some states, divorce law mandates that both of you attend marital counseling sessions before divorce proceedings can start, so be aware of the requirements in your state.



If both you and your spouse agree that divorce is your best option, and that marital counseling is just going to delay the inevitable, then you may be a candidate for what is known as an uncontested divorce. Are any and virtually all assets that you jointly own able to be easily divided, where you and your spouse can mutually agree on how to divide them? If so, then an uncontested divorce might be your easiest option and your most cost effective option.



But one of the things that you must make sure you fully understand is the divorce is final. It is not like a trial separation where a couple separates for awhile to understand how life works for them without the other one around. Sure, you can change your mind before the proceedings are finalized, but that is going to cost you even more money, not to mention the personal time you will have used to get to this point.



The other thing you need to fully understand is exactly what is meant by the term uncontested divorce. Generally speaking, it means that both parties agree that a divorce is their best option and nothing will be argued about, either in terms of the divorce itself or in the division of assets. Typically, a couple who is doing an uncontested divorce may have already split their assets and may not even be living together, so the divorce for them is almost just a formality.



Should you do it yourself or consult with a divorce lawyer? A lot of the answer to that question is how far you trust your spouse. If it is truly uncontested and you are 100% confident that no skeletons will jump out of the closet during the proceedings, then you can probably do it yourself and save some money. But if you do not have that level of confidence, even though on the surface it would seem that the divorce would be uncontested, you may want to protect yourself by consulting with a divorce lawyer first.



A good divorce lawyer may be just a consultation or two, where the lawyer lets you know what your rights are and what you can expect. If you truly expect the divorce NOT to be uncontested, you may want to consider actually hiring the lawyer to be with you every step of the way. While the latter option is of course going to cost you more, consider how much more it may cost you if your spouse pulls a rabbit out of the hat during the proceedings, where you are not prepared for something which is going to definitely turn out to NOT be an uncontested divorce. This is a judgment call on your part, but especially in financial terms, it may be better to err on the side of caution to ensure that you do not get hosed in the process.



If you do use a lawyer, do your research carefully. Make sure that the lawyer you choose is familiar with divorce law in your state, and has experience with what was expected to be an uncontested divorce and actually turns into something else. Every situation is different, so be cautious of divorce lawyers who suggest a cookie-cutter approach.



Since you are considering divorce, things have not been good up to this point. Make sure that you do everything you can to make your divorce go smoothly and allow yourself to restart your life on the right foot.

Divorce proceedings are uniquely demanding on personal finances, time, and emotional resources in a way that few other areas of law resolution can be. There are numerous aspects of divorce proceeding which can be undertaken by a well read individual, but nothing beats the relative peace of mind and experiential knowledge that a highly qualified Divorce Lawyer Attorney can bring to your divorce dispute.

With that in mind, we’ve set out to identify the key factors you should consider when looking for a great divorce lawyer. Think of it as your introduction on how to find the best divorce lawyers.

Your first step in any search should be to identify the various specialities you might require from them. Law is a vast and sprawling intellectual minefield, and even the apparently singular area of divorce law will fill many substantial reference books. When you consider all this, before even weighing the frequent changes in law which may be relevant to any case, its clear why finding experienced and specialized divorce lawyers should be a priority.

Fees should be your next consideration. Just as the scope and skill of lawyers varies greatly, so too does the cost of their time. Their rates vary massively but, though cost is generally a good indication of a lawyer’s expertise, it is quite possible to find a highly qualified lawyer willing to work at relatively low rates. The same is true in reverse too, so: Buyers beware!

Once you have chosen a person who is suitably qualified, and who also seems to be within your price range, it’s time to have a meeting with them. These discussions can last from anything between ten minutes and an hour. They will ask questions with the intention of establishing if they are willing to take the case and work with you, just as and you should be considering whether they are suitable to undertake your divorce proceeding.

During your first meeting, ask questions which reveal their experience in divorce cases similar to your own. A highly qualified attorney will be glad to recount previous similar cases which they have won, and should provide a relatively frank analysis of your situation, explaining how they can help. Less experienced attorneys will avoid pointing out direct correlation with previous cases.

Finally, if you are satisfied with the qualifications and attitude of your Divorce Lawyer Attorney, it’s time to talk money. They should now know enough about your case to quote an hourly rate, which may or may not include a retainer. Don’t be afraid to shop around to get an idea of the best value for money, particularly if it seems your case may be more complex than usual.