Four Traits Moms Should Look for in a Divorce Lawyer

If you are a mother with children at home and your marriage is coming to an end, your mind is probably full of uncertainties. Will you get custody of the kids? Where will you live? Will you receive child support or be required to pay any? The answers to your questions will vary depending on your family’s unique situation and on the lawyer you choose to represent you.

Choosing the right divorce attorney isn’t easy, particularly in the New York area where there are so many firms willing to handle family law. Before you lock yourself into an arrangement with a lawyer, take a step back and remember that you are in control. Think of your attorney search as a job recruitment, where you are in charge of hiring and the attorney needs to explain why you should choose him or her.

Here are some key factors mothers should consider as they are evaluating potential lawyers:

1. Experience — New York family law is notoriously complicated, so you’ll want to ascertain the lawyer’s experience. How long have they practiced? Is divorce their main focus or just a small part of their practice?
2. Approach — Look for a lawyer who is able to handle divorces using various approaches. You may need someone to be aggressive in court to argue for you. Or, if your divorce is amicable, you may need someone who is a good negotiator and understands alternatives like
3. Connection — Does the lawyer seem genuinely interested in you and your children? Or do you get the sense that your case is just another on a long list? You don’t need the lawyer to be your friend but you do want someone with whom you feel comfortable sharing personal information and possibly traumatic details.
4. Communication — You’re going to have a lot of questions and concerns throughout your case and you want to be confident that your attorney will be there to provide answers in a timely way. Not only that, but you want the answers to be clear and in plain language, not legal speak.

As New York divorce lawyers who have handled thousands of cases, we know that moms have a lot on their plates during the best of times, and searching for a lawyer only adds to the burden. It’s critical that you end up with a lawyer you trust to do what is right for you and your kids, so the effort is worth it.

We encourage you to reach out to our divorce law team here at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates, P.C. Our lawyers have represented thousands of mothers in New York and we would be happy to provide a free consultation to hear about you and explain how we can help. Call 1.631.479.3839 or contact us online anytime. Our office is located in Melville and we serve all of Long Island.