{"id":56362,"date":"2022-11-09T11:37:54","date_gmt":"2022-11-09T16:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.familytoday.com\/?p=56362"},"modified":"2022-11-09T11:03:30","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T16:03:30","slug":"want-to-get-a-divorce-heres-what-to-do-first-according-to-lawyers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.familytoday.com\/relationships\/want-to-get-a-divorce-heres-what-to-do-first-according-to-lawyers\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to Get A Divorce? Here’s What to Do First, According to Lawyers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Making the decision to\u00a0divorce<\/a>\u00a0is huge, but it\u2019s only the beginning of what can be a draining process, both emotionally and financially \u2014 especially if you\u2019re not prepared.<\/p>

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Once you\u2019ve come to your decision, you may wonder \u2014 where do I even go from here? We asked divorce attorneys who have guided clients through this many times before what steps to take first. Here\u2019s what they said.<\/p>\n

1. Do your research on divorce lawyers and ask for referrals.<\/h2>\n

Take some time to research attorneys in your area. Solicit recommendations from trusted people in your circle. You can also contact any respected attorney, even if they don\u2019t practice divorce, and ask them for their recommendations, suggested Atlanta divorce lawyer\u00a0<\/strong>Randy Kessler<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 author of\u00a0\u201cDivorce: Protect Yourself, Your Kids And Your Future\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 suggested.<\/p>

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Be thoughtful and selective during this process.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not just hire any family attorney or the first person you Google,\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>Lauren Lake<\/a>, family attorney and judge on \u201cLauren Lake\u2019s Paternity Court<\/a>,\u201d told HuffPost.\u00a0\u201cYou must do your research, set up initial consultations, and see if their style of representation is a good fit for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

You want to find a lawyer who is willing to walk and talk you through every step and represents your interests well, Lake added.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlways remember the lawyer works for you, not the other way around,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

2. Consider your specific needs and circumstances.<\/h2>\n

When receiving lawyer recommendations from friends and family, it\u2019s important to keep in mind why that person is suggesting this particular attorney, New York divorce lawyer\u00a0Dana Stutman<\/a>\u00a0said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe aware that every divorce is different and every person going through divorce has different needs,\u201d she said. \u201cMake sure your needs drive your decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

To help guide your search, ask yourself a few questions:<\/p>\n