Few things are more stressful than ending a marriage. After all, not only must you separate from the person you thought you would be with for life, but you must also work toward an independent financial future. A good lawyer can help you accomplish both goals.
Working with the wrong attorney may harm your divorce’s outcome. Fortunately, you probably are not stuck with the first lawyer you hire. Here are four signs that you may need to switch to a new legal representative:
- Ineffective communication
Your attorney may have dozens of family law cases. For you, your divorce likely occupies a substantial amount of mental energy. If your lawyer is not willing to discuss your concerns and answer your questions, you may feel lost. A different lawyer with better communication skills may help you achieve peace of mind.
- Missed deadlines
When dissolving a marriage, you must follow strict time frames. While there are usually ways to minimize the consequences of a single missed deadline, your lawyer should not regularly fall behind. If your legal advocate misses deadlines or commits other types of legal malpractice, you probably need a different one on your team.
- Different opinions
Your divorce lawyer probably has the legal insight and experience you lack. As such, it is typically a good idea to consider your attorney’s opinions. Nevertheless, you may reach an impasse. If you fundamentally disagree with the path your lawyer recommends, you may not be getting the most out of your legal representation.
- Personality conflicts
There is no need to be best friends with your divorce lawyer. Still, you and your attorney should get along well enough to work together. You should also be able to tell your legal representative details about your marriage that you may not be comfortable sharing with others. Either way, if your personality clashes with your divorce lawyer’s, it may be time to find a new one.
If you are going through a divorce, you probably need effective legal representation. Because not every lawyer is right for every client, you may need to switch attorneys to get the most out of the professional relationship.
