How to Hire a Divorce Lawyer?

The following questionnaire can help you find and hire an experienced lawyer who can be the right fit for your case:

How to Hire a Divorce Lawyer?
  1. Are you able to get along with the divorce attorney?
  2. Does the lawyer focus exclusively on divorce cases, and how busy is he/she?
  3. What is the lawyer’s reputation with the court and his/her clients?
  4. Does the lawyer believe in collaborative divorce resolution?
  5. Does the lawyer communicate systemically and promptly?
  6. Who will handle your case?
  7. Does the lawyer know your spouse?
  8. Have you browsed the lawyer’s website and appraised the testimonials?
  9. How does the lawyer charge fees?

After checking with your family and friends, and after searching online, you can shortlist a few divorce lawyers who look suitable. And then go about finding the most appropriate one for your case by using the following questionnaire:

Are You Able to Get Along with the Divorce Attorney?

You may be the friendliest person in the world and your lawyer may be the Einstein of divorce law, but if you both do not vibe with each other or develop a rapport, or cannot stand together in a room, you will not receive your ideal results. Find someone you are comfortable working with.

Does the Lawyer Specialize in Divorce Cases, and How Busy is He?

You need to work with a firm that is laser-focused 24/7 on divorce cases. Working with a general practice firm can compromise your case because such firms handle all kinds of cases without specializing in any.

When you discover an experienced lawyer who seems just right for you, find out how busy he/she is. If he/she is too busy with too many cases, he/she may not be generous with time – in that case, he/she should have an experienced team and assign to you a lawyer who has the time for you. On the other hand, if the lawyer handles very few divorce cases in a year, there might be a reason for that – it could imply that there’s a lack of competence. Therefore, you need to strike the right balance and how you do that depends on you alone.

What is the Lawyer’s Reputation with the Court and with his Clients?

The lawyer should have an excellent reputation with his colleagues, clients, and the courts. If he is disliked, negotiations can become tougher, and that could compromise your case. The lawyer should not have any violations listed against him on the state’s bar association’s website.

Does the Lawyer Believe in Collaborative Divorce Resolution?

Collaborative divorcee refers to the process of resolving divorce disputes amicably, without litigation. The idea is to use mediation and negotiation as tools to resolve the divorce so that time and money can be saved, information can be exchanged in a transparent and informal environment, and an agreement can be made on how to handle post-separation issues so that the divorce can be resolved to both the parties’ satisfaction.

Therefore, you should check if the lawyer is more interested in a legal fight or a peaceful approach. We believe that a calm and amicable divorce resolution process through negotiation and mediation works best for the vast majority of clients.

Does the Lawyer Communicate Systemically and Promptly?

Being accessible and easily available on the phone, messenger, or email, communicating systemically, keeping you informed of what is happening (as it happens), asking your opinion on new strategies, being upfront about fees, and in general, being transparent and accessible are characteristics that all quality family law firms are known for.
Is the lawyer you are interviewing a systematic and transparent communicator? Dig in and get an answer.

Who will Handle your Case?

You interview an attorney because you are interested in hiring him. Therefore, you should consider asking him whether he/she or one of his team members will be handling your case. If he plans to assign the case to a team member, make sure you trust the lawyer you’re talking with and you trust that his/her team of lawyers will serve you well.

Does the Lawyer Know your Spouse?

If the lawyer knows your spouse, personal feelings can get in the way and influence his approach. We recommend not working with a lawyer who is connected to your spouse.

Have you Browsed the Lawyer’s Website and Appraised the Testimonials?

Typically, a quality law firm publishes a helpful family law blog that educates readers and turns them into informed litigants.
Your to-be lawyer’s website should publish helpful and prompt customer support – phone, messenger, online chat, or email. Their communication should be efficient and helpful to prospective clients.

Online testimonials can be a gray area. Remember that all humans are different and it is not possible to please everyone – therefore, if all testimonials are glowing and positive, you should consider taking them with a pinch of salt. Typically, reviews by people who have posted their names can be considered trustworthy. That said, online testimonials are just another checkbox in the lawyer selection process.

Finally, please consider not relying solely on search engine results. For example, some Utahns search for “best Utah divorce attorney” or “best Utah Utah family law attorney,” and shortlist the first 3 or 4 names that show up on the search engine. Such people should analyze the lawyer’s practice some more before hiring him. Google can’t do that for you.

How does the Lawyer Charge Fees?

Divorce lawyers charge fees based on:

  • Billable Hours (Line-Item Billing)
  • Flat Fees

In the billable hour form of billing, the lawyer charges you for the time he spent on your case. He/she lists the tasks performed in your case and charges you per task. That way, you get to know what task is completed and how long it took.

In the flat fees form of billing, the lawyer charges a flat fee for services. Flat fees can help clients control the cost of the case, and  they are paid upfront.

The questionnaire above is likely to help you cut down on your shortlist and hopefully select the right lawyer.

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About the Author: Marco Brown
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Marco C. Brown was named Utah’s Outstanding Family Law Lawyer of the Year in 2015. He graduated with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2007 and is currently the managing partner of Brown Family Law, LLC.

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY AND WHY

Check out what some of our real life clients had to say about working with Brown Family Law

Brown Family Law
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Brown Family Law
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Karen Meneses
Karen Meneses
Great attorneys who care about their clients!
Eric Brown (Creeksidechiro)
Eric Brown (Creeksidechiro)
Nathaniel was a great and answered all my questions and I am confident we’re heading in the right direction.
Response from the owner: Thank you and we're glad Nathaniel has been so good at giving you the answers you need.
Lexi Payne
Lexi Payne
Nathaniel is amazing at family law! Highly recommended checking them out!
Response from the owner: Thank you, Lexi.
Aaron Wilde
Aaron Wilde
I have worked closely with Marco Brown and Nathaniel Garrabrandt in many capacities. I refer family, friends, and clients to Brown Family Law because I know they will be taken care of by attorneys that understand the law and know how to effectively advocate for their clients. Highly recommended!
Response from the owner: Aaron, thank you. We appreciate your trust.
Brandon Ross
Brandon Ross
I can't say enough good about this group. At the end of the day, Ray Hingson went out of his way to make everything run smooth. Even though the other firm encouraged and allowed them to use character assassination as a tactic, Ray stayed above the fray and made sure things were fair for both parties. If you want integrity and fairness for everyone involved these are your guys.
Response from the owner: Brandon, thank you for the recommendation. Glad Ray was able to help you.
Stavros Makris
Stavros Makris
Tarl Johnson was incredible! He was professional, thorough, and explained everything in a way I could easily understand. I left the meeting confident and informed. Highly recommend!!!!
Response from the owner: Thank you for your kind words.
Jamie
Jamie
Andrew Christensen was an amazing advocate. He had my best interests in mind, he listened, kept me informed, made time for me, and had all the answers. No detail escaped his notice. He saved me time and money and I felt taken care of. I highly recommend Andrew to anyone.
Response from the owner: Jamie, so glad Andrew was able to help you.
Mindy Eddy
Mindy Eddy
I would absolutely recommend Brown Family Law. In my situation, I paid the consulting fee and met with an attorney. In this meeting, the attorney was very kind and honest. After going through the details of my concerns, he informed me that it was highly likely that taking my concerns to court would cost more than what I'd see back. He also offered to refund the original consulting fee. I felt heard and trusted the advice he provided and decided to not move forward. I felt so much better after just talking with him even though the outcome wasn't what I wanted. At least I know now and am not constantly wondering. Thank you Brown Family Law for giving me peace of mind and for being so trustworthy.
Response from the owner: Mindy, thank you and glad Clay made you feel heard.
jaiden mauder
jaiden mauder
Daniel young was absolutely fantastic to work with and I would highly recommend him.
Response from the owner: Jaiden, glad Daniel was able to help you with your case. Thank you for your recommendation.
Aaron Dahle
Aaron Dahle
Great to work with, thanks for everything
Response from the owner: Aaron, glad we could help.
Maili Marsden
Maili Marsden
Nathaniel and his team were incredible to work with! They were extremely thorough, responsive to my questions and kept me informed the whole time. I would highly recommend Nathaniel or anyone at Brown Family Law if you’re going through a divorce.
Response from the owner: So glad Nathaniel was able to serve you through your divorce.
Shaun Jorgensen
Shaun Jorgensen
Best attorney ever. They were so helpful and responsive
Response from the owner: Thank you, Shaun.
Rachell McConkie
Rachell McConkie
Highly recommend working with this group. Professional and communicative.
Response from the owner: Thank you, Rachell.
Carol Peacock
Carol Peacock
So grateful for Nathaniel and his paralegal Carren for helping me get thru my divorce, they were so professional, and kept in contact to update me twice weekly. I would highly recommend them.
Response from the owner: Carol, thank you. Glad Nathaniel and Carren helped you.
David Kenney
David Kenney
Anne-Grayson was wonderful to work with very understanding
Response from the owner: Thank you, David.
Anthony Neumann
Anthony Neumann
Would like to shoutout Andrew Christensen for a smooth and easy process throughout the divorcé process. Andrew was always quick to respond and definitely has your best interests In mind. I would highly recommend you let Andrew represent you for anything in regards to family law! Thank you for everything Andrew! You’re the best!!
Response from the owner: Anthony, thank you for the recomnendation, and we're happy Andrew served you well.
J W
J W
Had a zoom video consultation with Daniel today, he was amazing. Where the divorce was completed a few years ago and now modifications need to happen regarding custody and how far apart the parents can live, Daniel put us at ease as to what can be done, and what were the proper steps. He provided many example scenarios so we could have a much better understanding as to how things would or could happen. He answered each question with great detail. Very grateful for Daniel
Response from the owner: Thank you.
Kayla Paige Berry
Kayla Paige Berry
Met with Daniel and he was amazing. He answered every single question I had and never made me feel dumb for the questions I was asking. He made things very easy to understand and follow. So grateful! Keep up the great work!
Response from the owner: Kayla, thank you and so glad Daniel was able to answer your questions and help you.
Mariposa S
Mariposa S
Daniel Young and Carren Levitt from Brown Family law have been very kind to me during my court process. It’s been a lengthy process and during this process, one of my grandchildren needed surgery. They were very thoughtful and kind and sent flowers to her. I have a cognitive delay, They have been very kind and compassionate and patient with me. The whole staff is truly been kind.
Response from the owner: Thank you, Mariposa. Glad Carren and Daniel took such good care of you.
Chris Giotbanni
Chris Giotbanni
Had an excellent experience with the staff here. Sofie and Andy are great to talk to. Nice and they know a lot. You can tell they know how to win.
Response from the owner: Chris, glad we were able to take care of you. Thank you.
Jacob Mellick
Jacob Mellick
Dani is amazing and easy to work with. Would definitely recommend working with her.
Response from the owner: Jacob, thank you.
Bella Tess
Bella Tess
Dani is amazing! Her communication is awesome.
Response from the owner: Yes, Dani is. Glad she communicated so well with you.
Kyle Schroeder
Kyle Schroeder
Brown Family Law was a very effective, communicative and hard-working representation in my recent case.They were transparent and responsive to my questions and concerns.Kim, Marco and their team were the best group of attorneys to have in my corner.Hopefully I'll never need a Family Law Attorney again, but if I do, I'll be calling Brown Family Law.
Response from the owner: Kyle, glad we could help. Kim enjoyed helping you with your case.
kaipo hurtt
kaipo hurtt
Daniel has been AMAZING to work with. Goes out of his way to what whatever you need.
Response from the owner: Glad Daniel served you well. Thank you for your recommendation.
Linzi Garner
Linzi Garner
Dani is great to work with! She responds quickly and is reliable. She knows her stuff!
Response from the owner: Linzi, thank you for your kind words about Dani. Glad she was able to help you with your case.
John Holland
John Holland
They are very efficient and Ray was exceptionally efficient, helpful and caring. I definitely recommend them.
Response from the owner: John, we're glad Ray served you so well. Thank you for your kind words.
McCray Jensen
McCray Jensen
Sophie was an amazing person to work with. She helped walk me through many of my concerns I had in a clear and concise manner. She regularly followed and reached out with me, making me feel like not just another number.
Response from the owner: Thank you, and so glad Sophie communicated so well with you.
Michael Eschrich
Michael Eschrich
Ray did an outstanding job. Would highly recommend.
Response from the owner: Michael, glad Ray did such a good job for you.
Ariel Bezoski
Ariel Bezoski
Had an hour consultation. Answered all the questions I had, explained everything in an understandable way and followed up.
Response from the owner: Glad we were able to help, Ariel.
Bill C
Bill C
Carren and Jason were very helpful and quick to respond to my questions and concerns as we worked through my divorce, I would recommend them to anyone.
Response from the owner: Thank you, Bill.
James Herrera
James Herrera
I cannot say enough good things about Brown Family Law. Amy was my attorney and she was great! She always listened and responded quickly. Thanks to her, my case was resolved quickly. Thank you, Amy.
Response from the owner: Glad Amy communicated so well with you, James.
Jace Morris
Jace Morris
Fast and kept me involved. Very professional team.
Response from the owner: Jace, thank you.
Fer Esquivel Guillén
Fer Esquivel Guillén
This firm is awesome but special shoutout to Dani, she is an outstanding paralegal. She is very knowledgeable
Response from the owner: Thank you very much for your kind words about Dani.
Karl Bench
Karl Bench
I can't say enough about Russell Yauney at Brown Family Law! He has helped me on multiple cases over the years and has always exceeded my expectations. Russell is one of the good guys who isn't afraid to tell you how it is and isn't afraid to stand up and fight for what is right. I'm glad that I have Russell and his team in my corner!
Response from the owner: Karl, glad Russell served you well.
Ryan Farrell
Ryan Farrell
very helpful to fathers who have been broke by the system and targeted for vaporization(1984). Thank you brown family law.
Response from the owner: You're welcome, Ryan. And thank you for the kind words.
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We're Child Advocacy-Focused

At Welty Law Office, we know that when we make children’s well-being a priority, their parents do better, too.

At Welty Law Office, we know that when we make children’s well-being a priority, their parents do better, too.

At Welty Law Office, we know that when we make children’s well-being a priority, their parents do better, too.

At Welty Law Office, we know that when we make children’s well-being a priority, their parents do better, too.