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One of the most important decisions you’ll make in your divorce is choosing your divorce lawyer – the person who’ll represent your interests throughout the case. So the process of finding the right lawyer is not one to take lightly. Your divorce lawyer needs not only ample experience and skills in family law, but also expertise in the specific areas in which you need assistance, as well as compassion and personal compatibility with you.

Ideally, you should interview several divorce lawyers before making a final decision. Here are ways to get started:

• Ask for recommendations from friends and family members who have divorced, or from other professionals you know, such as therapists, financial advisors, or other types of lawyers.

• Contact professional organizations that offer referrals to highly reputed divorce lawyers, such as The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers or the Law Society of Upper Canada.

• Research the Martindale-Hubbell guide, which ranks lawyers across the United States by success and skills.

• Explore Internet resources such as DivorceMagazine.com. We provide state-by-state listings of family lawyers, with a substantial profile for each divorce lawyer detailing their experience and personal approach. Some lawyers offer answers to frequently asked divorce questions in video format, to give you a sense of what it may be like to work with them. If you click on the links above, you will see listings of lawyers in the respective cities, with links to their profiles.

You could also check the Yellow Pages, although the number of choices there might be too broad and most do not offer in-depth information about the lawyer. Any divorce lawyer can get a listing there, regardless of expertise or experience.

Most divorce lawyers offer an initial consultation for free or a low fee. This is your opportunity to find out if the lawyer is the right fit for your case. Here are the main issues you should be asking about:

• Does this divorce lawyer have a lot of experience?

• Is he or she being frank with you? It’s preferable to have an advocate who’s willing to tell you the straight truth about what the likely outcomes will be, than one who makes unrealistic promises and tells you only what you want to hear.

• Is he or she equally adept at negotiation and litigation? It’s usually a good idea to find somebody who can settle your divorce amicably if possible, but who also is prepared to vigorously fight for your rights in court if needed.

• Does this divorce lawyer practice mediation and/or collaborative law? These are useful, non-adversarial alternatives to court that may lower the financial and emotional costs of your divorce.

• If you and your spouse have children, does this divorce lawyer have experience and/or special expertise in children’s issues?

• If you and your spouse have a lot of assets to divide, does this divorce lawyer have training in complex financial and property issues? If not, does he or she have access to qualified financial professionals who could help?

• Do you get along personally with this lawyer? Are you comfortable telling him or her everything about your marriage? Does he or she seem compassionate and empathetic?

• Can you afford the legal fees? How does the divorce lawyer’s billing method work?

These are just some of the things you need to know. Don’t be hasty about hiring a divorce lawyer; take time to ensure that you’ll get the best divorce outcome possible.

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