That said, there are other posts on here that suggest ways of determining the strengths and weaknesses of and divorce lawyer, such as going to the state bar association. This website presently does not endorse any specific lawyers or law firms. However, Virginia Divorce Lawyer is building an attorney profile section for guests such as the one who posed this question. Thus it is suggested that you inform the respective attorneys of this website and let them know they are welcome to submit a profile for inclusion on the website.

Now without going into specifics regarding each of the respective attorneys previously mentioned, if attempting to determine which one is possibly better suited than another for your situation, than included in this post  are a few questions likely worth asking.

How are you different from all the other divorce lawyers?

This is an excellent and simple question that places the burden of describing their competitive advantage on each of the individual attorneys. Listen to what each of them say and draw conclusions based upon their answers.

What should I expect during the process?

This is intentionally left as a general question. Does the lawyer simply go over the legal procedures involves or do the attorneys also take the time to let you know what they are personally going to do in order to assist. Depending upon the amount of assistance desired, this response to this question is quite revealing and often helpful.

What is the total cost?

As with anything, price is almost always a factor. Make certain it is clear on exactly the amount charged and what is included in that amount. Are court costs additional or included in the pricing? What happens if the divorce goes from an uncontested to a contested one? Asking these questions in advance and ensuring specific rather than vague answers is important in order to prepare a budget accordingly. Hiring a Virginia divorce lawyer is can quickly turn into a costly endeavor. Knowing these costs upfront is generally helpful for personal planning.

This is one reason a divorce attorney often requires a retainer. There are many unexpected events that can occur throughout such an emotional process and a portion of these lead will lead to increased attorney costs. The most common example that comes to mind is a divorce switching from an uncontested one to that which is contested, which is almost always much more expensive for any lawyer to handle.

Aside from the major changes such as that above there are many other smaller unexpected events that can occur throughout the time of deciding to divorce and when the decree is finalized. This can include changes to previously verbal agreements upon divisions of assets with the other. If children are involved the process an entirely new can of worms of potentially unexpected events can occur that are beyond the scope of this post. As with written here, please keep in mind this is not legal advice and to consult a licensed divorce lawyer.

There are other search tools to consider when looking for a couples’ counselor. Of course Google is an excellent source, but another and often untapped venue contains screeners provided by a health care company’s website. Couples pondering hiring a Virginia divorce lawyer may first want to use these tools to see if a relationship is salvageable. More importantly, a counselor can help a couple regain a lost spark and help each other fall in love again. Something that is unlikely to occur if a divorce attorney is hired.

There are other resources available such as online directories that are publicly available for those who are not part of a health plan. Additionally, there are numerous individual providers that can provide assistance that is possibly not covered by insurance. At the end of the day everyone wants to smile. Thus I encourage all readers to at least explore the option of visiting a couples’ counselor before they start to dissolve a marriage. It could result in much happier and less costly situation for everyone. Please share your experiences with couples’ counselors in the discussion area below. Bad and positive experience are likely of value to all those reaching this posting.

The financial hardships that frequently take place during a divorce are tremendous, not even taking into account tax considerations of a new filing status as discussed in a previous post. I saw little data whether commencing a case for an uncontested or contested divorce with a lawyer results in a higher bankruptcy rate. This article will provide a more in depth view as to the underlying reasons divorces can result in bankruptcies down the line and more importantly what measures one can potentially take to protect themselves from becoming another statistic.

The cost of hiring a qualified divorce lawyer in Virginia or any other state is expensive in and of itself, but this is often a drop in the bucket compared to the other financial consequences that can potential ensue. Creditors want their debts repaid and realize that they likely have the best chance by targeting the more financial responsible person of the former couple. There is high likelihood that one spouse will end up owing all or a portion of the other’s debt. The debts are perhaps ones one person never even knew existed.

Adding insult to there are new living expenses such as another car or an additional place to live which one party frequently incurs a larger responsibility than the other. This and many other factors can leave little choice for a once financially solvent person to find themselves on the brink of or filing for bankruptcy. Reviewing a credit report beforehand is smart step to see if there are any potential complications along this route. Crucial is bringing up this matter to your divorce lawyer as at is often not considered till the consequences are more detrimental.

It is always important to note that I am not attorney and no one should ever construe the information herein as legal advice. That disclaimer stated it seems the most logical choice is to obtain the divorce in the same state where you last resided together as a couple. I imagine this is more important if one individual maintains that residence. The primary factor here, as with any legal cases, is ensuring the lawyer you hire is licensed to practice law in that state. This is especially critical with a contested divorce as there is the possibility of multiple court dates in which your attorney might need to appear front of a Judge to litigate certain matters. With an uncontested case, it seems conceivable to utilize a lawyer outside of the state.

However, this entire article is much ado about nothing. Why overcomplicate a likely already complex issue? If you lived as a couple in VA then simply hire a Virginia divorce lawyer who is registered with the state bar to practice law in that state. If you are now living in a bordering state such a NC, many times an attorney near the border will have licenses in each of states. Just ensure that the counsel selected can try cases in Virginia. Times are likely tough enough, avoid turning simple decisions into complicated ones. Simply look for and then hire an attorney in the most logical state based upon the circumstances of you and your spouse.

One crucial factor to keep in mind is that there are multiple attorneys who are vying for your business. Oftentimes a top Norfolk contested divorce attorney already has a fairly full case load. Nonetheless, as a potentially new client, there are quite a few options available. A point to keep in mind these days is the state of the economy is impacting everyone and lawyers are not an exception. People who might normally end their marriage are giving it another shot just for financial reasons. While, I view this as a recipe for disaster in any relationship, it is also an opportunity for those who decide to continue with the divorce since finding competent representation might end up costing much less than even one year prior as a result of those waiting on the sidelines. Therefore keep in mind that since you are the person paying the lawyer’s bills, there might be less expensive to hire the same counsel today than last year.

While there are a variety of different firms and people to pick amongst, Virginia Divorce Lawyers already performed much of the heavy lifting in the profile section off of the homepage. Currently there are none displayed since I am still gathering information on the different firms. However, shortly one can expect to see a handful of carefully selected Norfolk contested divorce attorneys, as well as others throughout the VA region. Firm that are not list and wish to increase their exposure may follow the instructions on: http://www.virginia-divorce-lawyer.com/virginia-attorney-profiles/. Readers may also visit this same place to view the updated counsel profiles of those firms that handle contested cases.

Beware of office chatter and stories heard elsewhere as means of protecting your assets before and during in a divorce. Oftentimes it is unwise to follow such advice. An example is opening up a safety deposit box at a local bank branch and placing cash within that box. Imagine what happens in the event that is discovered. Also keep in mind that in all likelihood your spouse will discover it with a halfway decent lawyer of their own. This is but one example of an action that is not suggested.

Please keep in mind that protecting your assets in a divorce is an extremely complex topic that varies dramatically with each individual situation. This is why it is extremely important to hire a competent VA divorce lawyer or another state if appropriate. Depending upon the net worth of an estate some attorneys might advise speaking to other counsel as well. Either way the lesson is that those concerned about their assets should definitely talk to an attorney before commencing a divorce or if possible even before one’s spouse is fully of that intention.

While it is important to speak directly to counsel regarding how much to budget for a contested divorce, as a general rule of thumb plan to set aside a minimum of $5,000. The complexity of the case will of course determine whether or not this figure ends up lower or alternatively much higher. Generally the more assets and the less cooperation with your current spouse are the two largest factors that can increase the amount of money one should plan to set aside for the proceedings and associated expenses. Speaking to multiple Virginia divorce lawyers before selecting one is always a smart idea. Also, seek the advice of friends that went through a similar situation.

It is important to never had assets from your spouse, when budgeting funds for your attorney. However, in the same breath it is important to ensure that appropriate allocation of assets to properly pay for experienced legal counsel. It goes without saying that completing a divorce is a timely, generally horrible, and expensive process. Selecting an experienced Virginia divorce lawyer can help to alleviate a portion of the associate headaches. Take the time to look at our attorney profiles for additional assistance in selecting the right law firm for your contested divorce case.

Virginia views contested and uncontested divorces the same when in regard to separation periods. However, if children are involved, the state requires the couple to spend a longer time apart before making a final decision. When no children are part of the family a couple is required not to reside at the same address for six months. When there are children, and the impact a divorce might entail on their well being, Virginia requires a one year time frame. The rationale behind this is to provide a couple additional time when there are various family considerations to take into account and the actions of the couple are impacting more than just themselves. Again, this is the state’s opinion and reasoning behind the laws. Please feel free to add your comments on this legislation in the discussion area further below.

There are a variety of individuals that strongly believe in the necessity of this legislation or adamantly disagree. Regardless, when commencing a contested Virginia divorce, this is a consideration to keep in mind. The state does not view contested or uncontested divorces any differently. I am of the belief that this should play a role in the separation period since the surrounding family issues are likely more complex in a contested divorce. Nonetheless, I did not write the legislation nor later enacted these laws. There is always the option of moving to another state, such as Nevada, that does not have the same requirements as Virginia. Ultimately, I understand both vantage points, but am for less government regulation, and do not condone the state regulating the separation periods. Nonetheless, I see the rationale behind the laws, especially in contested cases. It is similar to the cooling off period to protect consumers with certain transactions, except the time frame is much longer. Please share your point of view about this and other family considerations involved in an uncontested or contested Virginia divorce.