When facing divorce proceedings, it is crucial to hire an experienced attorney. A skilled legal representative can manage a collaborative strategy while still employing aggressive tactics when necessary.
Nancy Chemtob, an New York divorce attorney, has represented an array of high-profile clients during their divorce proceedings and is regularly featured on gossip website TMZ. Her expertise ranges from property valuation to business assessments.
1. Expertise
Divorce can be an emotionally and financially taxing experience for all involved, especially when children are involved. Each spouse has spent years earning, paying debts, forming a unique bond within marriage – and divorce dismantles all this to put both parties back on more equal footing; assets, property and even debts will need to be divided amongst themselves fairly. Therefore, it’s imperative to find an experienced New York state divorce attorney familiar with each particular case before beginning this journey.
An experienced divorce lawyer can evaluate your particular case and make crucial judgment calls, such as whether to settle out-of-court, engage in collaborative divorce, or go to trial. Their ability to see the big picture and make wise judgments will help you avoid unintended consequences or costly mistakes during divorce proceedings.
Divorce lawyers must also have the ability to listen attentively. You will likely share information about some of the most personal aspects of your marriage with their attorney during your case – such as children and finances – so it’s crucial that they serve as an ally throughout this dialogue without judgment or bias.
Finally, an exceptional divorce attorney must possess the ability to manage conflict, negotiate settlements, and aggressively represent their client when necessary. Divorce proceedings can often make it hard for clients to remain rational; taking unreasonable positions is all too easy; therefore it’s vitally important that clients find an attorney equipped with an array of negotiation strategies who knows when it is appropriate to use each tool at its full capacity.
An important step when searching for an attorney is assessing their caseload. While you would ideally like the experience of having someone completely dedicated to you as your legal representation, most attorneys have multiple clients and cannot give each client equal attention. You can do this by reaching out and inquiring about their current client load – contact your potential divorce attorney and inquire as to their caseload!
2. Reputation
Reputation is of utmost importance when choosing an attorney, so make sure to find one with an outstanding track record within their community and among past clients, while being involved with professional organizations.
A good divorce lawyer will always have your best interests at heart and be honest in their assessment of your case, even if that means giving you bad news. They should inform you about all aspects of it even when that news may not be pleasant.
Legal representation can transform the way you perceive your case from feelings of anxiety and confusion into clarity and objectivity. Divorce can be a trying time; with expert legal counsel at your side, however, you can overcome its difficulties and move onto the positive aspects of life you’ve worked so hard for.
3. Experience
Idealistically, you need an attorney who will devote their full attention to your case; unfortunately this may not always be possible given most divorce lawyers have manageable caseloads. That being said, you should feel as though your divorce lawyer listens carefully to any concerns that come up and is ready to address any queries as they arise.
Additionally, the best legal counsel will always give their honest assessment of your case and tell you both its advantages and disadvantages. They don’t shy away from taking a stand when necessary and always strive to offer guidance that serves in your best interest.
Though every divorce case differs, most follow a similar trajectory. Over time, skilled litigators with experience can develop the necessary skills and confidence to bring even complex cases through to trial, giving clients peace of mind knowing their attorney will do whatever’s necessary to reach a fair resolution for themselves and their children. When necessary they won’t shy away from fighting hard for them but also know most cases can be settled through negotiation or settlement agreements.
4. Fees
Price may not always be the most important consideration when selecting a divorce attorney; however, you do want to ensure you can afford their services. Therefore, when speaking to prospective attorneys you should inquire as to their hourly rate and retainer fee requirements (an upfront payment from which their legal fees can be deducted). Inquire also as to any additional costs such as court filing fees, photocopying charges, notary fees mailing costs process server funds etc which vary based on state and county.
Look for an attorney that can give an accurate estimation of how long your case will last, helping you plan and budget financially for it. In addition, discuss how they handle their cases; for instance do they employ teams of attorneys to assist with various aspects of a case in order to lower costs? Typically this option will prove more cost effective than hiring one lawyer solely.
Finally, it is wise to inquire as to the number of cases similar to your own that the attorney has handled in the past. This will provide insight into their experience with handling similar matters and any likelihood of success for your own case.
Complex cases often cost more, from custody and visitation disputes to property division disagreements and hiring specialists like forensic accountants. If negotiations fail to settle your issues in divorce, trial may become inevitable and this can significantly increase legal fees as additional time must be spent preparing discovery materials, witness testimony preparation and witness examination – but courts sometimes award one party with their own attorneys’ fees if the other side acted in bad faith by hiding assets or income or prolonging the litigation for too long.