divorce or relationship breakdown...
legal matters
...choosing the right solicitor
If you are currently going through a relationship breakdown, or want to know what your legal rights are and more importantly where you would stand if you were to proceed with a divorce, then a very important decision you have to make is choosing the right family law solicitor for you.
A divorce or financial settlement, or even children issues could take anything from six months to a year, or maybe longer to sort out, so your decision as to who you choose to act for you is vitally important and will affect you both financially and emotionally.
So here are some important points to help you to make the right choice:
• Is the person a specialist in family law with many years of experience? Some solicitors offer general services and whilst offering family law advice may not be specialists. Family law specialists are trained and experienced in giving you their valuable advice and opinion.
• Is the person a member of any accredited schemes such as Resolution (previously known as the Solicitors Family Law Association). Solicitors who are members of Resolution operate under a code of conduct to provide quality services.
• Does the person offer mediation and/or collaborative law services? These are useful alternatives to the court process that help to lower the cost and stress of your divorce.
• Is the person being frank with you? It is best to have the person tell you the straight truth about possible outcomes then tell you what you want to hear. You are after all not paying a lawyer to agree with you. You are paying them for their professional opinion and advice.
• Are you comfortable talking to this person? After all, you will be informing them about pri- vate matters about you and your relationship and what you want. Do you feel they are com- passionate and caring? Although, remember lawyers are not trained therapists.
• How much will it cost? Is the first appointment free, or a fixed fee? What are the costs likely to
be and how often will you be billed? Do you qualify for public funding, if so do they offer these services?
• Cost is an important factor, especially now with more online facilities on the internet offering you a cheap divorce. However, you lose out on the comfort and understanding offered by a face to face relationship with a local family law solicitor that is right for you.
Remember, just because the lawyer came highly recommended from your best friend, or family member, when they get divorced does not mean that person is right for you. Instead of clicking blindly on an advert hoping for the best choose wisely.
At Wolferstans, we pride ourselves on having a team of family law specialists, offering both in-house mediation services as well as collaborative law services. We aim to offer you an honest appraisal of your circumstances on a value for money basis and with peace of mind.
Ring us now and speak to our new client co-ordinator Sarah Webb on 01752 292239 for fur- ther details of how we can help you choose the right family law specialist for you.
48 the plymouth magazine
by Malia Mandalia of
Wolferstans
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