When searching for legal separation lawyers, try to find out the reputation of those in your area. You can do this by talking with friends and co-workers who have recently gone through a legal separation, annulment, or divorce. You can also check with the licensing agency in your jurisdiction to see whether or not there have been any complaints against these attorneys for misconduct. Find out if the firm you are considering is willing to mitigate matters, such as child support, alimony, or custody issues, should this be necessary.
Scan your local telephone directory for people advertising as attorneys. Read these ads carefully to see if they specialize in this particular area of the law, usually called family or domestic law. These individuals may be more familiar with laws concerning legal separation or divorce than lawyers who mainly handle bankruptcy or estate planning, for example.
Your acquaintances can often recommend legal separation lawyers based upon their own experiences. Talk to others who have gone through this ordeal within the last six months. Ask them who they used to create a separation agreement or represent them in a divorce or child custody situation. Find out if they were satisfied with the services they received during this time, as well as the fee they were charged for this service.
In most areas, legal separation lawyers must be licensed by an association in the location where they practice. This bureau is responsible for ensuring that its members act ethically and responsibly when they are advising their clients. It does this by following up on complaints filed by the public who have dealt with these people professionally. Check with the agency in your area responsible for doing this. In the U.S., it is the bar association of that particular state. Find out how many complaints have been filed, the reasons, and whether or not the attorney was disciplined in each instance.
If you have children, you may want to discuss custody and support issues in the separation agreement. Find out if the legal separation lawyers you are considering are willing to tackle these delicate issues. Discuss whether or not they would be willing to litigate these things by arguing in front of a judge if need be.
Making the decision to get a legal separation can be a stressful one for many people. Even so, it is important to draft an agreement that protects your rights, should this separation lead to a divorce. This means that hiring the best legal separation lawyers is an important thing to do.