Divorce is emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausting. If you are contemplating divorce, or your spouse has filed against you, at this moment, you are making decisions that will literally impact the rest of your life, as well as that of your children. The most important decision you must make is the selection of your family law attorney, the person who not only will fight for you, but will advocate for what is in the best interests of your children.
Unfortunately, legal fees can be astronomical. Often times, the parties are left in such financial ruin that they are forced to rebuild every aspect of their lives from the ground up and they no longer have the resources to do so. Of course, you cannot control the actions of your soon-to-be ex-spouse, your can control how cost of your divorce by asking pertinent questions of your potential attorneys. Here are a few pointers:
- Do your research. Visiting such platforms as Google, Avvo, FindLaw and the State Bar of Georgia. More recently, you can also use social media as a source of information. Personal referrals from family members, friends and colleagues are also good resource.
- Compile a list. Compile a list of 3 to 5 names. Understand that you will sharing your most intimate details of your life with this person, who will be in your life for the duration of this divorce. On average, you will be in litigation for 8 to 24 months. Select the people that you think you will feel most comfortable with, perhaps taking into consideration gender, race, religion and socio-economic background.
- Family Law Experience matters. The list of potential attorneys should have an extensive background in family law. Their practice should primarily, preferably exclusively, focus on family law. You do not what an attorney who dabbles in family law to set the course for the rest of your life.
- Interview. Spend between 45 minutes to an hour with each potential attorney. Interview them as though they are applying for a job and you are the boss. Yes. Experience, knowledge and expertise matter. However, you should also make sure that the prospective attorney has a personality that is compatible with yours. Again, you will be spending a lot of time with this person and sharing your most intimate aspects of your life. Trust your gut and chose an attorney that makes you feel most at ease.
- Selecting your attorney. Now that you have interviewed 3 to 5 candidates for the job, select the one that you feel it the best one for you. Don’t forget to ask about their litigation style, preferred method of communication and, perhaps most importantly billing practices.
The Law Offices of Daniele Johnson exclusively devoted to the practice of family law. While our main office is located in Cobb County, we service all of Metro-Atlanta, including such counties as Fulton, Forsyth, Douglas, Gwinnett, and Paulding. Daniele Johnson has been exclusively practicing family law for the last 28 years. She describes her litigation style as being results driven and strategically aggressive
The firm’s billing practices are reflective of Attorney Johnson’s litigation style. At the Law Offices of Daniele Johnson, we use a team approach on all of our cases and a stagnated billing method. Your legal team will not only include Daniele Johson, but also two paralegals that have a commutative 15 years of family law and are billed at a lower hourly rate. Superfluous billing is simply not tolerated. Of course, the most important member of your team is you. Nothing would be done without first discussing it with you, ensuring that you understand the case strategy, and getting your approval. With these protocols, you are left in the best possible financial position at the at the end of your divorce. At the Law Offices of Daniele Johnson, we believe that, although divorce is hard, it should not lead to financial devastation.
To learn more about the Law Office of Daniele Johnson, LLC., and to schedule a consult, please visit our website at www.djfamilylaw.com or call us at 470-746-6485.