Our Resource Center

The following questions are excerpted from an article in New England Divorce Solutions' Divorce Guide. Please contact us to receive the full article and our Divorce Guide.

• Do you practice family law exclusively? If not, what percentage of your practice is family law?
• How long have you been practicing?
• What is your retainer (the initial fee paid or the actual contract you sign to officially hire a lawyer)? Is this fee refundable? What is your hourly fee?
• What is your billing technique? You should know what you're paying for, how often you will be billed, and at what rates
• Approximately how much will my divorce cost? The lawyer will only be able to provide an estimate based on the information you provide.
• What do you think the outcome will be?
• If your spouse has retained a lawyer, ask your prospective lawyer whether he or she knows this lawyer. If so, ask: "Have you worked with him or her before? Do you think the lawyer will work to settle the case? And is there anything that would prevent you from working against this lawyer?"
• What percentage of your cases goes to trial?
• Are you willing and able to go to court if this case can't be settled any other way?
• How long will this process take?
• What are my rights and obligations during this process?
• Who, at your firm, will be handling my case? It could be the lawyer you're interviewing, an associate, or a combination of senior and junior lawyers and paralegals?
• Should I consider mediation? Ask whether your case at least in the initial stages might be a good one for mediation.
• What happens now? Do I need to do anything? And when will I hear from you?

Bring this list of questions with additions, if necessary, to suit your individual circumstances with you to the initial interview; that way, you'll know if all of your concerns have been handled.

Contact us for a trusted referral

New England Divorce Solutions works closely with family attorneys, mediators and therapists and can recommend a trusted divorce professional who has the qualifications that can best meet your needs. Please contact us for a referral.