How to Choose a Divorce Attorney in Alabama
Whether you have decided to initiate a divorce, or you have recently received a divorce petition from your spouse, hiring the right attorney is essential to the outcome of your case. Choosing an inexperienced divorce attorney or attempting to represent yourself could have consequences that you will need to live with for many years. If you expect contention about issues such as child support and custody, spousal support, and the division of assets, debts, and property, you owe it to yourself to obtain a compassionate and experienced attorney who will fight for your rights and those of your children.
Smith & McGhee, Attorneys at Law, Have Represented Thousands of Divorcing Clients
Experience matters in any legal proceeding, especially divorce. Our attorneys, Billy Shaun McGhee, Thomas S. Smith, and Scott Smith have more than 20 years of combined experience representing clients going through this difficult life transition.
Mr. McGhee passed the bar in 2000. Half of his specialty areas include family law issues, including child custody, visitation, and domestic relations. Thomas S. Smith was admitted to the Alabama bar in 1994. Divorce is just one of his family law specialties. The others include child support, visitation, domestic relations, and domestic violence. Scott Smith received his juris doctor three years ago and has admission to the state bars in Alabama and Florida. Like our other attorneys, family law is one of his specialty areas. He can help you with any matter related to divorce.
When you’re interviewing divorce lawyers, don’t be afraid to ask about their experience in cases like yours. While they can’t provide specific details due to client confidentiality, they should be able to speak generally enough to earn your confidence in their ability to represent you throughout the divorce proceedings.
Who Will Communicate with You?
When you hire a divorce attorney, it’s not unreasonable to expect to communicate with that person most of the time. Although you can expect to speak to an assistant on occasion, you should receive prompt replies to your emails and phone calls regarding questions about your case. After all, the outcome of your divorce has great bearing on your life and the lives of your children. A good divorce attorney recognizes this and keeps you informed. Unfortunately, lack of communication is one of the main reasons people stop working with a divorce lawyer and find someone else to represent them.
Just going through a divorce is enough stress for anyone. When your lawyer evades your voice mail or email messages or is too busy to see you in person, take it as the red flag that it is. You’re paying for the expertise and time of a divorce attorney and you should receive it. This is something we guarantee at Smith & McGhee, Attorneys at Law.
Choose Someone Who You Get Along with and Trust
You may want to go ahead and hire a divorce attorney when you find one with acceptable experience and affordable fees. This is understandable, but your homework isn’t done yet. You need to pay attention to whether you feel comfortable speaking to this person and being in his or her presence.
If something feels off at the initial meeting, the discomfort will only grow the further you get into your divorce proceedings. Do you feel like the attorney truly hears your concerns or does he or she talk over you? Do you see him or her in the role of advocate or someone just out to get as much money from you as possible? Pay attention to any feelings of uneasiness because they’re just as good a reason to pass on a divorce lawyer as anything else. The relationship you develop with your attorney is important and should never include mistrust or anxiety.
Schedule a Smith Law Firmto Learn How We Can Help You
Smith & McGhee, Attorneys at Law, invite you to contact our Dothan, Alabama office at 334-702-1744 to request a free review of your divorce case. We will let you know what we can do to help with you most pressing matters. We are sorry you are experiencing a difficult time and will do everything possible to ease your legal burdens.
