How to choose the right Attorney?

There are thousands of lawyers in the State of Texas alone. When you have a divorce or custody matter, how do you choose the right divorce lawyer? Here are some things that you should look for when you choose an attorney:

1. Their primary practice area should be in family law.

A divorce and/or custody matter affects you and your loved ones for years to come. If you have a distant relative that specializes in wills and trusts, it’s not a good idea to ask them to try handling your divorce. Instead, you need someone with outstanding training and years of experience in family law.

Your attorney should be able to speak about the laws that apply to your case and give specific examples of possible outcomes. They should be able to give you specific examples of cases that they’ve handled and should have conducted a number of family law trials and hearings in court.

When you hire a family lawyer, you’re relying on them for their experience in addition to their expertise. They can use the wisdom from previous cases to guide you to the best outcome.

2. They should give you realistic expectations.

An attorney should never promise you that you’re going to win everything. An attorney can tell you how the facts of your case apply to the law. They can tell you what the likely result of the case might be, but results are never guaranteed. Your attorney should be able to tell you what to expect, but they should also tell you that nothing is guaranteed until it’s in a court order that’s signed by the judge.

3. They should bill transparently.

The right attorney should give you a written fee agreement. If they charge by the hour, they should state how much they charge per hour. The fee agreement should explain billing practices and law firm policies about things like billing for the time of an assistant or billing for copying and mailing costs.

An attorney should be able to give you a ballpark estimate of fees in your case. Although an attorney can never be sure of an exact cost in a family law matter, they should be able to explain to you what can make family law litigation more expensive in certain cases.

4. They make you comfortable.

Think of your attorney as your teammate. Your Austin family lawyer working alongside you through a trying period in your life. You’re going to work together, and you’re going to depend on your attorney to pursue your interests. See if you have a good feeling about the attorney when you meet. Go with your gut.

At Kirker Davis LLP, we believe that no two cases or clients are alike. If you have a family law need, we invite you to come meet with us. We’ll get to know you and create a plan of action to advance your interests. Please contact us today.

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