When going through a divorce, individuals who are on a budget may need the services of cheap divorce lawyers. Divorces are typically not cheap. This is especially true if a couple’s divorce becomes contentious. Having an affordable lawyer working on one’s behalf can lower the costs and save an individual a ton of money.
Where to Look for Cheap but Credible Divorce Lawyers
Discovering cheap divorce lawyers is easier in big cities. However, the issue at hand requires handing over confidential information to another individual. No person in the world would prefer sharing such matters with attorneys who aren’t professional, skilled and experienced. Hence, it’s important to recruit someone trustworthy and credible. Here are some ways to find the best cheap divorce lawyers.
1. Get referrals from past clients
Those who’ve already gone through a divorce may have some contacts. If they’ve gotten positive results, they might help give you lawyers’ numbers and inform how they went about with the process. In case of negative experiences, they could highlight some red flags that could save you the headache of choosing the wrong lawyer. Ask as many questions from these individual as possible to get a good feel of past experiences. But keep in mind that some individuals have unreasonable expectations. Therefore, explore that aspect too, and figure out if they had the right to be disappointment based on the type of expectations they held.
2. Check experience
Before hiring a cheap divorce lawyer to proceed with your case, inquire about their experience of handling divorces. The most crucial metric is the number of cases the lawyer has gotten ruled in his/her client’s favor. Professionals who’ve won multiple cases and have been in practice for long are likelier to command the confidence of the ruling authority and know the bits and bobs of different cases and are familiar with the divorce process.
3. Look for relevant specialization
Not every attorney is a family law specialist. Recruiting someone whose specialization is not in divorce law may turn out to be a bad decision for persons who’re seeking a divorce. These individuals, no matter how good they’re in corporate or criminal law, lay lack the skills needed to win family law cases, especially ones that directly involve kids. Hence, you may end up losing custody by working with a wrong professional. Check lawyer’s reputation, skills and experience before making a decision.
4. Look for lawyers on the web
The World Wide Web is also a relevant area to find suitable cheap divorce lawyers for certain instances. The best lawyers make their websites appealing with detailed information about the cases they’ve won and industry referrals. If reviews say they’re keen on inquiries, work with the best clients, and answer phone calls in a timely manner, it’s a sign that they can be trusted. Taking some advice from professionals such as divorce lawyer Sugar Land will give you a great idea of how you go about this process.
Benefits of Hiring an Inexpensive but Experienced Divorce Lawyer
When the majority of people walk down the aisle on their wedding day, the last thing they want to think about is getting a divorce. Unfortunately, this is exactly what will happen to many people, in fact, more than half of couples. When and if it does, it will be in the best interest of the person getting a divorce, to hire a lawyer. An attorney will be able to help him or her get through the legal portion of the process as best as they possibly can. They will offer legal advice, helping individuals obtain certain possessions and the physical support that they might need after the breakup, for instance, child and/or spousal support. Because divorce can get nasty, with each person looking after him or herself, it is often necessary to hire an attorney. Cheap divorce lawyers will be all that some people can afford.
It is important to note, that there are some good, cheap divorce lawyers. Just because a lawyer does not choose to charge exorbitant fees, doesn’t mean that they are a subpar one. Looking around until a person finds a lawyer that is affordable, experienced and proven is the way to go.
With that said, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
Get a Written Agreement
Whether you work with an expensive or a cheap divorce attorney, most of these professionals will charge the hour. Also, they’ll ask for an upfront deposit before commencing their service. You’ll then be charged according to the retainer until the end of its tenure. You’re also responsible for any extras incurred in case you forget to deplete the retainer on time. It’s, therefore, critical that you obtain a written agreement that specifies the exact conditions of the service. Without one, you could end up shelling out cash for unnecessary expenses or the lawyer’s daily trip to the café.
Factor in Your Lawyer’s Location
The area where your attorney’s office is located may or not be that vital, based on your specific situation. But it can be an advantage to regularly commute to their office for a drink or coffee. It’s worth knowing that if the lawyer’s office is situated at a good distance from the Family Court, you might also have to compensate for their traveling time. So don’t make the decision to hire a cheap divorce lawyer based on the swankiness of his/her office. Instead, see how far the lawyer is situated from your home. The nearer, the better.
Discuss the Required Documents
Meet the lawyer to discuss what documents are required so that you don’t end up being surprised. A divorce statistics form, plus Particulars of Claim and combined summons are usually required. It’s not that complicated though if you don’t have a child. In this case, you just need a marriage certificate and ID books. If you don’t have a marriage certificate, an abridged one can be made through Home Affairs Department.
With the summons you’ll have to specify the marriage breakdown and the type of relief you’re after, i.e. co-parental rights, divorce, etc. R80 Affix of stamps revenue to the combined summons’ face.
If an agreement has been reached, you’ll have to use the relevant Particulars of Claim. These documents require clients to deal with big assets like vehicles and the entire home. Minor items are unusual to list. The agreement could instead say that the parties have agreed to equal division of movable assets.
Gauge Personal Compatibility
Another crucial thing to check is compatibility, which basically means that you should feel comfortable working with the person. If you don’t feel comfortable, you shouldn’t engage the professional any further. The relationship between clients and attorneys in family law matters is utmost important. Because you’d be sharing your intimate details with that person, you should feel comfortable enough to hear any advice the lawyer may provide you with. Hence, make sure you pick someone who you’re comfortable speaking to as well as listening to you.
Carry Realistic Expectations
Lastly, set this at the back of your head: Divorce is a procedure where division of your assets is a probable outcome. The cheap divorce lawyer is there to represent your case to the best of his/her ability in the said process. While you may want them to sit down and listen to your frustrations, that’s not their job. They don’t do the work of a psychologist. In fact, it can be wastage of time to speak about your anger with divorce lawyers. What seems crucial to you might not be vital in legal context, so be realistic about you can expect from a cheap divorce lawyer.
It is Possible to Hire a Cheap but Good Divorce Lawyer
Getting a divorce is not only unfortunate it can also be very expensive. Some lawyers will charge hourly fees that most people can’t afford. For individuals who cannot, it will be important that they check out their options and keep searching until they find an attorney that they can afford. Divorce is bad enough on its own, going broke in the process of terminating a marriage, would simply being adding insult to injury. This is the last thing that most people will want to do or can afford.
An inexpensive lawyer will help individuals avoid paying out a tremendous amount of money. This is especially beneficial if a person can’t afford it, which many people cannot. In this economy, where job loss has been rampant, having to pay out a lot of money in order to be granted a divorce is something that few people can afford to do. A good but inexpensive lawyer can help them avoid doing so, that is if they have a good case.
Cheap divorce lawyers are often the best option for people who don’t have a lot of money. Some attorneys will charge a flat fee in which all of their expenses are included. Others will charge a low hourly fee. Whatever the case, this makes it possible for individuals to get the help and legal direction they need without spending a lot of money. Today, it is possible to do so.