Questions to Ask your Ohio Divorce Lawyer

1. How many years have you been practicing divorce law?

Try to retain a divorce attorney with many years of experience. A seasoned divorce lawyer should have seen a large number of different kinds of divorce cases and have a large skill-set to bring to the table.

2. Do you have references?

A reputable Ohio divorce lawyer should be happy to provide you with a list of references that demonstrates his or her success in representing clients. Be sure that you receive good recommendations from the attorney’s clients and peers.

3. Do you belong to any professional organizations?

A good divorce attorney should belong to the Ohio Bar Association. Also check to see if your attorney is a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. An attorney with these memberships may be more dedicated and up-to-date on the goings-on in the legal community.

4. Have you ever been disbarred or reprimanded?

If your attorney is not in good standing with the state bar, you may want to ask for clarification. Though this does not necessarily eliminate an attorney from the running, it should raise a red flag.

5. What do you charge?

Asking about fees can be awkward but it is a necessary step to deciding on an Ohio divorce lawyer. Be sure that you ask up-front and before you are billed so there are no ugly surprises down the line.

6. How long will my divorce take?

Requesting a general timetable is not too much to ask when meeting with your divorce attorney for the first time. He or she should be able to give you an approximate timeframe. This may also help you figure out your budget and how much legal representation will cost.

7. What approach do you think is best to take with my divorce?

The answer to this question may also help inform you of which attorney to choose, as you may prefer one approach over another.

8. Have you published in the area of divorce law?

A divorce attorney who publishes demonstrates that he or she is dedicated to the area of divorce law. Additionally, he or she may also be more respected in the greater legal community because of his or her work in advancing the field.

9. Will you be my lead counsel?

It may be important – especially in large law firms – to determine if the attorney you are meeting with will be the one in charge of your case and the one to handle most of the details of representing you.

Rely on the number one online legal directory www.AllLaw.com to get listings of divorce lawyers in Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, Toledo, Dayton, and Cincinnati.