More than 90% of people get married by the age of 50.

And somewhere between 40 and 50% of them get a divorce.

If you’re reading this, it is probably because you’re contemplating getting a divorce yourself and will need an attorney.

In an already emotional time, it’s not the most fun thing in the world to go through. You’ve probably already agonized, gone to marriage counseling and begun processing the grief of the end of your relationship.

You’ll want to make it easier on yourself by being prepared.

Before you retain any divorce lawyer, you should ask him or her a variety of questions to ensure your relationship will be smooth.

You should speak to a variety of attorneys before deciding on one.

Here is our list of the questions you should ask him or her before pulling the trigger and hiring a divorce lawyer.

1. Ask If You Can Have a Cost Estimate

Many attorneys aren’t willing to answer this question up front, which can lead to frustration. But if you’re counting your pennies, especially after the break-up of your marriage, it is an important one.

The cost of a divorce depends on how complicated the matter is. If there’s a huge degree of conflict between you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse, this can make it all the pricier. If the two of you are on the same page and are ready to get a divorce without much back and forth, the case will likely be cheaper.

A good lawyer will be upfront about his or her hourly rates and how he or she bills. They will also be upfront about the fact that the costs can vary extensively from case to case.

2. Ask a Divorce Lawyer If You Can Negotiate With Your Ex Without a Lawyer

Some divorce lawyers may allow you and your spouse to negotiate directly. Others, especially those who want to drive up their billable hours, will not. An honest lawyer will work with you to figure out the best way for you to move forward. He or she will also be interested in saving you time and money, and not just how much he or she can make off of your case.

If a lawyer won’t allow you to do anything yourself, you might want to find someone else.

3. What Type of Law Does He or She Practice?

You want a lawyer who specializes directly in family and divorce law. When it comes to lawyers, you don’t want a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Instead, you want someone who knows family law and divorce law in your area up and down, like www.freedomlaw.ca in Slave Lake, Alberta. This ensures that you are getting the best representation possible.

4. Ask Your Lawyer How He or She Predicts Assets Will Be Divided

Lawyers aren’t psychic, but those with a good amount of experience in family law and divorce law in your district will be able to give you an educated guess.

If your lawyer has worked extensively in your district, he may also be familiar with the judges who operate there. From past experience, he or she can tell you how similar cases have panned out and how the property was previously divided amongst divorced couples.

5. What Does He or She Predict the Outcome to Be?

Again, you can’t expect your lawyer to predict the future. But you can expect your lawyer to be familiar enough with other cases to give you a fair assessment of what could happen in your case. He or she can, again, discuss previous cases he or she or their colleagues may have worked on that were similar to yours. These cases should give you an idea of what the outcome will be, especially based on the judges in your area.

6. Will There Be Other Costs Involved in This Divorce?

In some cases, there may be other costs involved other than your attorney or his or her staff’s time. In some instances, your attorney may need to bring on a doctor or psychologist to plead certain things before the judge. Your attorney may also have to hire a process server to serve your former spouse. If your former spouse is trying to dodge service and papers, he or she may also have to perform a skip-trace on him or her to try and find them to serve.

All of this will go into how much your divorce will cost. So that you don’t get caught by surprise, a good lawyer will let you know if he or she expects these costs to incur.

7. Do You Know My Spouse or Their Attorney?

Your attorney will be working with your spouse’s attorney to help reach a settlement. If he or she knows your spouse’s attorney, it could help your case to know how they work. However, if your lawyer knows your spouse, this could create personal issues, particularly if they know your spouse well.

Choose a lawyer who is truly a neutral party when it comes to your divorce.

Bonus Questions and Closing

Ask your divorce lawyer if he or she holds any certificate or is a member of any organization that accredits them as a family or divorce lawyer specialist. Some states have separate exams for lawyers who wish to do family and divorce law, so it is important that you know if your lawyer is fully qualified.

Don’t just interview one attorney and go with the first one you pick. Instead, speak to several different lawyers and decide after interviewing them. You’ll also want to find someone you personally “click” with to make sure everything runs smoothly.

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