To get so close to a person and develop a feeling of dependency and then make efforts to move away permanently and disown all obligations to each other devastates many individuals. The pain and frustration gets worse if the divorce is acrimonious, full of accusations and counter-accusations. Issues like child-custody, sharing of assets and liabilities and maintenance claims spoil the atmosphere and there are frequent court appearances to resolve the case. In such cases, it becomes essential to choose a competent and qualified high street divorce solicitor who can give you excellent legal advice backed by years of experience and steer you through the entire process quickly and with minimum hassle. Such solicitors charge by the hour and the expense in some cases can burn a big hole in the contestant's pocket. For uncontested divorce cases where both the partners agree to split amicably and on their own come to an agreement on financial and child-custody issues, a host of online divorce service providers now exist who can get them a divorce quickly and cheaply without their ever having to go to court. As a general rule, to make the divorce process easier, one should try to be as amicable as possible and not use the proceedings to "get back" at the partner. It is better to take the emotions out of the affair and treat it as a purely legal process that should be got over with as soon as possible. Choosing a High Street Solicitor There are hundreds of divorce solicitors competing for your business and it can be quite difficult to make an informed choice. But it is important for you to be careful in choosing the one who literally fits your bill, otherwise you may come to grief later. 1. Ask Around - Word of mouth is still the best and most reliable way to get advice about a solicitor. Your neighbours, relatives, friends and office colleagues may know someone who was raving about how good their divorce solicitor was. These are the contacts you should utilise as such recommendations are based on personal experience. 2. Tap Other Sources - Citizen's Advice Bureaus, yellow pages and searching on the Internet can provide you a load of information about divorce solicitors in your area. Pick up the ones you think look the most professional. 3. Narrow Down Your Choice - Once you have made a list of about half a dozen solicitors who specialise in divorce and family law in your area, it is time to narrow down your choice. 4. Meet them - Give a visit to the solicitors on your list for a preliminary discussion about your case. Enquire about the experience of the solicitor, what kind of cases they specialise in, how knowledgeable and professional they are, can they act as a mediator, what kind of support they provide, what are their office hours, how complex they think your case is and how much time they estimate it will take to resolve in the court. Most importantly, do not be embarrassed about asking how much you will be charged. Be crystal clear about the billing - do they have a fixed rate for their various services or do they charge by the hour? Never choose a solicitor whom you cannot afford financially regardless of how professional and competent they look. 5. Make Your Decision - Based on your interactions with the solicitors, make a decision. Rely on your gut feel as to with whom you will be most comfortable working and discussing your personal details. The final decision should be based on factors like the personality of the solicitor (courteous or self-important), how the staff treats you (professionally or with impatience), the commuting distance to the solicitor's office and, of course, the cost involved. Choosing a Web-based Divorce Service Provider Choosing an online divorce service provider is easier than short-listing a high street lawyer because in the former case you do not have to visit their office with a hawk eye to size them up. All the information you need to take a decision is available on your desktop in the comfort of your home. The main thing you have to check is if the company provides a quick, simple and affordable divorce solution. 1. Ask around - As in the case of a high street solicitor, personal recommendation is ideal for choosing an online divorce company. If the advice is genuine, it removes the need to do time-consuming research on your own. 2. Search Online - You should use a good search engine to come up with names of some online divorce service providers. Short-list at least five or six names that look promising. 3. Browse their Websites - Go through the websites meticulously to see what services they offer. How much do they charge? How expensive are their downloadable legal documents? How much time do divorce cases take with them? 4. Check their Pedigree - Go through the "About Company" section of the providers - how old are they, are they established and reputed, how many cases have they handled until now and are they members of any industry association? Read the testimonials from other clients. Do the providers have a press section with paper clippings that feature their name? Since reporters only quote executives of successful and prominent companies, it is a good sign if the name of an online divorce service provider finds mention in newspaper articles. Other things you should look out for are whether the company is ISO certified, provides 24/7 support and offers a refund if you are not satisfied with its service. 5. Make a Choice - After considering all things carefully, especially how affordable and quick the service looks and the reputation of the provider, you should make your final choice.
Related Articles -
Family, law, lawyer, lawyers, family lawyers uk,
|