Once you decide to file for divorce in Boston, you need to find an attorney. Massachusetts allows for both no-fault and fault divorces, but regardless of your circumstances, you cannot discount the need for sound legal advice. If you and your spouse have managed to resolve issues and don’t have much to fight about, you should still have a lawyer who can handle the paperwork and protect your interests. If you want to consider a qualified divorce lawyer in Boston, click here. In this guide, we share how you can find the most trustworthy attorney.
Experience and specialization
You need an attorney who specializes in family law and has been practicing in Boston for at least a few years. Remember, specialization is everything, and family law is a vast field. Find someone who has worked on divorce cases and understands the nuances. Ask them about their track record, typical cases they deal with, and other details like their major achievements and other professional qualifications.
Empathy and communication skills
Talking about your divorce with a third party can be embarrassing, and more importantly, talking about the pain points is anything but easy. However, it is a lawyer’s job to ensure that the client feels comfortable. Divorce attorneys have to be patient and empathetic, even when they are hearing a similar story. A competent lawyer takes time to educate the client about state laws and how things work in Boston.
Negotiation and mediation
One of the most crucial aspects of any divorce is negotiation. More often than not, lawyers from both sides talk and try to come to common ground and seek favorable settlements for their respective clients. You need to check whether the attorney can be aggressive when necessary. Just because there is no agreement doesn’t mean you have to go to court right away. There is the option of mediation, which will happen before a neutral third party, but your attorney can be present to discuss things further and guide you during the process.
Expertise in crucial matters
Some of the critical things during a divorce are matters like child custody, division of assets & debts, child support and alimony. You need a family lawyer who understands these things and has helped clients previously. Also, if your spouse has committed domestic violence, you should discuss whether and how an attorney can help in such circumstances.
Availability when needed
You should have access to a divorce lawyer as the situation demands. If a lawyer acts too elusive or doesn’t respond to your calls or emails, you know they aren’t taking the matter seriously. You should check whether the lawyer has additional stuff to communicate with you when they aren’t personally available.
Ratings and reviews
Any attorney can say great things about what they have done so far, but unless you check independent ratings and reviews, it can be confusing to decide whether to hire them. Check feedback on Google and social media to know a divorce lawyer better, and while not all attorneys would offer references because such matters are private, you can always request that.
Trial experience
The last thing you would want is to go for litigation. Going to court is not just time-consuming, but you may end up paying a huge amount to your attorney for their time and effort. However, it is still essential to check whether a lawyer is capable of representing you in court.
Not to miss, check the overall costs of hiring a divorce lawyer in Boston. The pricing depends on several variables, but you should have a clear idea. Make a list of top law firms in the city NOW!
