Why Would I Want to Hire a Divorce Lawyer, Anyway?

by Katie Wilcox Carter

I’m facing a divorce or child custody case, but … I’m not really going to have to hire an attorney, am I?

In our book, Why Would I Want to Hire a Divorce Lawyer Anyway?, you will:

  • Learn how to find the *right* family law attorney for YOU, without being swayed by fee-generating referral sites or falling victim to an attorney who promises it all but produces very little;
  • Get the facts on what alternatives – like mediation, or even the possibility of hiring an attorney pro bono – exist to hiring an attorney to represent you;
  • Understand what to expect from the initial consultation, billing, and retainer agreement process with a local lawyer;
  • Discover the different types of cases, including which probably would require you to hire an attorney (and which ones wouldn’t);
  • Find out how to navigate when (not if) you receive advice that you don’t like or that runs counter to your intuition; and
  • Get a ‘scorecard’ that you can use to rate and compare attorneys (including a list of questions to ask anyone you’re considering hiring).

But I really, really don’t want to have to hire an attorney.

Hey, no one is making you do anything! In Virginia, you can represent yourself in divorce and child custody cases, so, if you decide to do so, that’s fine! The point is that, whatever you decide to do, you do so with the most information possible so that you know what to expect and can plan appropriately for the future.

Do I even need an attorney if we’re amicable and no one wants anything from anyone?

How do lawyers handle regular billing – and what will all of this cost me?

How do I make sure I hire a good – and not a bad – family law attorney? (Have you heard horror stories?)

How can I save money in my divorce or child custody case, whether I hire an attorney or do it myself?

How do I navigate a potentially high conflict case with my soon-to-be ex/child’s father?

What is an initial consultation and what can I expect?  Who can I bring with me?  What questions should I be asking?

What other free (or low cost) resources are available for women in my position?

Get Your Free Copy Today

You can opt for an e-copy only or, if you live in our immediate area, you can request a hard copy delivered to the spouse-safe address you designate.

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For more information, to register for an upcoming divorce seminar, or to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys, give our office a call at (757) 210-9870.