Useful Guidelines When Hiring a Chicago Divorce Lawyer

May 15, 2012 Posted by Barry

divorce lawyer in courtEven a divorce that starts out as simple and amicable can turn into a mess especially if it involves children and child custody issues. In order to prevent further difficulties, it is necessary to always consult an experienced lawyer in the state where you live. If you reside in Illinois, consulting a Chicago divorce attorney is crucial in protecting your rights, ensuring that you get a fair share of marital assets and securing your stability in the future. Here are some useful guidelines when hiring a Chicago divorce lawyer.

Basic Information

You must be aware of the qualifications and credentials of your divorce lawyer. You should ask a Chicago divorce attorney pertinent questions such as his area of specialization which is most preferably in the field of family law and divorce; the number of years of experience in that particular field, the divorce attorney’s education and memberships, fees, expenses, philosophy, management style, and his or her assessment of the possible outcomes of your case.

How to Find Divorce Lawyers in Chicago

You may ask for recommendations from trusted people such as your friends and relatives. Other methods to come up with a list of qualified attorneys are surfing the internet and searching through the yellow pages. Then, contact your prospects, speak to them and schedule an appointment.

Criteria for Hiring Divorce Lawyers in Chicago

With the large number of divorce attorneys in Chicago, deciding who you should hire is indeed tough. Your criteria for hiring a divorce lawyer may include the following:

Level of Experience

Ideally, this is the first criteria you must consider. A divorce lawyer must possess an extensive experience and success in dealing with divorce and family law cases in Chicago.

Level of Comfort

Assess your comfort level with the lawyer during your initial meeting. After narrating your case, understand his or her standpoint and determine if it is in line with your way of thinking. Evaluate his or her level of confidence in handling your case.

You Should Have the Last Say

It is you who knows your needs best. You should not choose a lawyer who pushes his or her own scheme without giving importance to your goals and interests. Remember that you are paying the lawyer to achieve what you want and not for him or her to easily win a case.

Fees Charged by the Divorce Lawyer

In Chicago, lawyers charge on the basis of hourly time spent in the court together with the other expenses incurred during the case. The hourly fee is agreed upon depending upon the experience and the time availability of the lawyer. Other expenses such as traveling and investigation, specialist charges, filing and service charges, court writer and recording charges are often charged separately on a quarterly basis. You may work out some portion of the charges which could be paid depending upon the desired legal outcome.

Make sure to use these guidelines when choosing a divorce lawyer in Chicago and rest assured that you can never go wrong.

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Mediate.com Post on Divorce Mediation

May 7, 2012 Posted by Barry

If you are either a divorce lawyer, a divorce mediator, or a party in a high-conflict divorce case, you owe it to yourself to check out a great post on mediate.com. An experienced divorce lawyer gives his opinion on what strategies mediators could use to more effectively settle divorce cases. The article talks about issues like avoiding joint sessions where the parties will just get angrier and have difficulty focusing on the underlying issues, and how to deal with cases where one side says they don’t have enough information or that they are missing documents. Check out the article here to get more tips and ideas on settling your divorce case in mediation.

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Helpful Tips in Hiring a Divorce Attorney in Chicago

April 10, 2012 Posted by Barry

divorce lawyerIf you are finding a divorce attorney in Chicago, you must make sure that you select a lawyer who has extensive experience in dealing with cases that share similar issues. In most instances, people choose a divorce attorney based on others’ recommendations. Although, this method can be used, this is not the most preferable way because there are clients who terminate the contract with their original lawyer half way through proceedings to seek out for advice and assistance elsewhere.

Investing time in searching for the right lawyer is a worthwhile effort. It is important to keep in mind that if you do not find the best divorce attorney available, then your future ex-spouse might do, giving them a better advantage in your divorce case.

Begin your search for a divorce attorney in Chicago by determining which type of divorce law specialist you need. If you feel that your divorce will be amicable and fairly simple, seeking out the help of a specialist may not worry you too much. On the other hand, if your divorce would include disputes on the custody of your children or the rights to assets or property, then you really must find an attorney that can defend you both in and out of court.

Also, it is essential to hire a lawyer with a diplomatic personality and a track record of excellent negotiation strategies. Most people prefer to settle their divorce agreements out of court in order to keep divorce costs inexpensive and less stressful.

Apparently, some divorce cases are extremely difficult to deal with because the parties are unsuccessful in reaching any mutual agreement. If this is the case, the case can swiftly land in the hands of the court. If you think your divorce will have to go to the courts to be decided upon, choose an attorney that has a high success rate in divorce court cases. If you anticipate for this possible outcome ahead of time, you may even be able to stop it from actually happening.

If your divorce case involves children, make sure to use a family law firm because they have a far-reaching understanding of the legal system and can ensure that they can help you and your family in utilizing the most appropriate legal approaches.

You also have to look into a divorce attorney’s background. Make sure they have an established history in divorce law and that they have been practicing in Chicago for many years. As a prospective client, you have the right to request for proof of their experience and competence. If the divorce lawyer is hesitant to accommodate your request, look for another divorce lawyer.

There are attorneys who call themselves specialists in fields of law that they have very little experience in. Make sure your divorce lawyer does not deceive you or you may end up being deceived in your divorce proceedings as well. Be completely sure that you can confidently count on your lawyer before agreeing to use their services.

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Parenting When Your Ex Has Money and You Do Not

March 24, 2012 Posted by Barry

I came across this excellent blog post on the sincemydivorce.com blog.  It is about how to parent when your ex is rich and you are not. They post is an excellent how-to on the keys to dealing with this situation in a positive proactive manner instead of doing what most do, whining and complaining about the unfairness of the situation.

Here are some of the recommendations for how to approach this dilemna:

  • Teach Your Children that Money Doesn’t Equal Happiness – you can use this is an opportunity to show your kids that you can be as happy as you make up your mind to be, regardless of your bank balance.
  • Remember Your Own Childhood – recall how little material things mattered to you as a child.  It is only as we approach adulthood that we become more materialistic and worry about keeping up with the Joneses.
  • Appreciate the Unique Experiences the Child Has With Your Ex – If your kid gets to go to Disneyworld with your ex and you would never be able to afford such a trip, then be glad that your child has the opportunity to experience it.  Share that experience with your child by being excited about it for them and letting them tell you all about it.

There are a lot more helpful tips in the article so be sure to check it out and give me your thoughts below.

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Recommended Posts Round Up

March 24, 2012 Posted by Barry

Here are some excellent divorce and family law articles that we came across:

We hope you found these resources useful.  If you have comments, or if you came across some excellent divorce resources that we missed, please let us know in the comment section below.

 

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The Benefits of Hiring a Divorce Lawyer in Chicago

March 13, 2012 Posted by Barry

divorceThe percentage of divorcing couples in Chicago is significantly increasing. With this information in mind, it is imperative to ponder about the relevance of hiring an experienced divorce attorney once you are confronted with this predicament that is undeniably becoming prevalent.

It is a prudent option to hire a reputable divorce attorney in Chicago in order for you to understand the complexity of the divorce process. Aside from that, you may also be able to anticipate the possible conflicts that may arise and be guided appropriately in every phase of the divorce. A divorce lawyer in Chicago can undoubtedly answer any inquiries and address your concerns that involve different facets of divorce such as financial matters, child and spousal support, child custody, visitation, distribution of property and many other related issues.

Another benefit of hiring an experienced Chicago divorce attorney is that he or she can certainly provide you with indispensable advice and guidance regarding the divorce process in Chicago. Indeed, hiring a local divorce attorney is highly recommended because of his or her proficiency in applying divorce laws in Illinois to your particular divorce case.

Furthermore, if you find a competent Chicago divorce lawyer as early as possible in the divorce process, it could greatly help you prevent mistakes that may cost you a greater sum of money. Also, the effective legal advice concerning your divorce from a Chicago divorce lawyer can guide you in working out a valuable legal strategy that will maximize your chances of achieving a positive result from your divorce.

Asking recommendations from the people you know and trust is a good preliminary step for selecting the best Chicago divorce lawyer for your particular needs. You may know a friend or a family member that has already experienced a Chicago divorce. You may ask a trusted source regarding the approaches that a particular Chicago divorce lawyer used in dealing with their cases in the past.

Another best way to decide which divorce attorney to use for your Chicago divorce case is to know what previous clients have to say about a particular lawyer. You may also ask a prospective attorney for client testimonials which will help you have an idea how the attorney pleases the clients. When the lawyer has previous clients who are ready to guarantee beneficial results, you can be confident about the competence of a divorce attorney.

It is a difficult and challenging time for anyone to cope with the process of divorce. However, you must remember to keep the situation under control as much as possible and protect your rights as well as your financial security. Thus, you should not let someone you do not have complete confidence with to handle your case. You must hire a divorce lawyer that is competent, has a good reputation and you are comfortable with. In this context, retaining an experienced and reputable Chicago divorce lawyer is indeed the best option if you want your legal rights to be safeguarded.

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Understanding the Divorce Process in Chicago

February 13, 2012 Posted by Barry

divorce courtIf you are seeking for a divorce in Chicago, you must first have a basic knowledge about the entire process so that you may prepare yourself emotionally, financially and legally. Here is a general overview of the divorce process in Chicago in order for you to understand the legal aspects of your case and know what to expect from your case.

In Chicago, a divorce case is initiated by filing a petition for dissolution of marriage. After filing, the other spouse will need to be served with the divorce petition by the sheriff or private process server. Otherwise, the spouse can file divorce papers individually or through a lawyer.

In most circumstances, a settlement is reached before the divorce case is filed or goes to court. This option is worth pursuing since it requires the least amount of time and money. However, when the spouses are unable to resolve all divorce issues and negotiate a mutual agreement, alternative approaches of reaching a settlement such as mediation and arbitration may be explored.

If a reasonable settlement cannot be achieved, you may now respond to the divorce petition which specifies the grounds for divorce and other related matters. The divorce petition contains the issues that must be resolved such as division of assets and property. If there are children involved, child custody, child support and visitation issues must also be addressed.

A divorce case in Chicago can be divided into three stages namely the temporary issue phase, discovery and investigation, and resolution.

Temporary Issues

In this phase, immediate or temporary issues are determined. These issues may include temporary custody, support and/or maintenance, where the parties are going to live while the divorce is pending, protection from abuse and domestic violence and provisions against financial indiscretion.

Often, divorcing couples can resolve these issues by themselves or informally through their lawyers. However, there are some instances wherein it is necessary for the court to resolve these legal concerns and a court hearing takes place. The court will then enter a court order that the parties are obliged to follow until the case is dismissed or the divorce is finalized.

Discovery and Investigation

During this phase, contested issues are identified and all assets, income and debt of the parties are determined. During investigation, a party may utilize different methods to gather sufficient evidence such as giving written questions under oath to the other party, having a deposition which allows the lawyer to personally ask questions to the other party in an informal proceeding, serving subpoenas requesting information from third parties and hiring private investigators.

The duration of this phase depends on the complexity of issues being addressed.

 

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Useful Tips in Choosing the Best Family Law Attorney in Chicago

January 13, 2012 Posted by Barry

divorce separationFamily law deals with domestic issues such as marriage, divorce, child support, and even domestic violence. Deciding who should represent you in your family law case in Chicago is an extremely crucial decision.  Here are some useful tips that will allow you to hire the best attorney for your case.

The best family law attorney is the one who has extensive experience in Chicago where your case will be filed. Aside from not having to pay for expensive travel expenses, you will certainly benefit from the attorney’s familiarity with the courthouse in Chicago. Moreover, the lawyer may have actual knowledge about the judge who will be in charge of your case. When you hire a local lawyer, it frequently increases the probability that he or she has been in that court with a particular judge in the past.

Many lawyers specialize in more than one field of law. The best family law attorney should spend the greater part of his or her time concentrating on family law issues. Often, people tend to hire a general practitioner because they think that divorce cases are common and uncomplicated and that any attorney will do.  This kind of perception is a big mistake.  Family law often deals with emotional issues whereas other fields of the legal system deal with a different kind of other matters. For instance, if you hire a criminal defense lawyer to handle your divorce, that lawyer may not be able to provide the same type of representation you need.

Another best way to determine which family law attorney is right for you is to hear from their previous clients. If you talk to previous clients of a particular attorney, they can give you an idea what it was like to be represented by that lawyer.

Another indicator of a good family law attorney is that he or she makes certain that you understand the fees you can expect to pay. Usually, a retainer fee is required before any work is performed on your behalf. However, the amount can differ from one lawyer to another. A family law attorney must make you fully aware of all costs up front as well as hourly charges and filing fees. There are attorneys who offer a flat fee for some services.

Finally, you should be comfortable with the lawyer that you will hire.  If for any reason you feel that you cannot communicate effectively with the lawyer, then this is not the right attorney for you and it means you should keep looking until you find the one that you will have a good working relationship with.  It is utmost important that you hire a lawyer that you can freely discuss with about your concerns regarding your case.

Dealing with the legal issues of family life is truly stressful. It can cause you a great deal of strain when you go through a divorce, fight for custody or visitation of your children, or try to discover whether you are the father of a child. Indeed, having an experienced and determined family law attorney on your side will certainly make a big difference.

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