When going through the difficult process of divorce, it can feel like you are out to sea with everything you need to get done, especially the decisions you have to make about what the next phase of your life will be like. A divorce can be immensely challenging, no matter how short or long your marriage was. For that reason, it’s essential to hire a divorce attorney who has the skills to get you where you need to be and will also guide you and counsel you through the process. When hiring an attorney, there are several important things to look for, including practical experience, reputation, personality compatibility, location (or whether they are accessible remotely), and cost.
Did You Hire the Best Divorce Attorney?
Once you’ve done your research and think you may have found the right attorney for you, how do you know you chose the right one? After representing thousands of divorce clients in the Chicago area, we’ve found the best divorce attorney for your case is the one that has the five characteristics below.
1. They are familiar with the issues in your case and have a plan for addressing them fairly.
Any good divorce attorney will tell you that every case is unique and there is no “standard” divorce. That said, there are issues within cases that frequently overlap – things like parenting time rights and decisions involving the disposition of your marital assets (or debts). An attorney representing you in a divorce case, worth their weight in salt, will advise you on their plan for your case to ensure that you are aware of the next step and do their best to avoid surprises.
2. They listen to your questions and provide complete answers about how the process works so that you understand your options.
You will have many questions about the divorce process and the other side’s requests and positions. A good divorce attorney will answer those questions and ensure you understand where your case is in the process and how to keep it moving towards the day you get your Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage. However, a great attorney will give you several options for how to proceed and let you be the decision-maker on your case.
3. They counsel you on your case’s strengths – and weaknesses – and let you make an informed decision.
If you have a specific request, a good attorney will let you know the likelihood of that request being granted by the Court if you were to take the matter to a hearing. Even if the request is not likely to be granted by the Court, that doesn’t mean you don’t get that request. It only means that it is something to negotiate and work out with the other party and see if there are any special requests they have that you could agree to. If not, then a good attorney will let you know what you need to do to give your request the best shot at being granted. Should you need to ask the Court to intervene, your attorney will fight to get your request granted.
4. They help you get through your divorce case with compassion.
Divorce is awful. It shakes your world. It’s especially challenging if you and your spouse have kids that you need to make co-parenting decisions for now that the marriage has ended. A great attorney will fight for you, be your sounding board, and treat you with the care and compassion that you deserve from your attorney on this case.
5. They strive to keep your legal costs low.
This may seem like an oxymoron – a lawyer who doesn’t want to get paid? That said, a great attorney (the right attorney) will not overbill you and dump you when the money runs out. They won’t charge you to draft meritless pleadings and motions and won’t waste your time and money having you chase after windmills. They will advise you about the cost of their work and answer any questions you have about your billing statements or other financial considerations. They know you don’t want to spend all of your money on the divorce itself – there should hopefully be some money left over that allows you to have something to fall back on after the divorce has been granted.
Ready to Speak to a Chicago Divorce Attorney About Your Case?
When you need a divorce attorney in Chicago that is both compassionate and experienced, reach out to the family law attorneys at Anderson Boback & Marshall. Our dedicated legal team will keep you informed throughout the divorce process and be sure you know your options for getting it done. With over 30 years of industry experience and a stellar reputation for responsiveness, aggressiveness, and problem-solving for our clients, we would love to be able to counsel you and provide you with the best representation possible for your divorce and family law case.
