What to look for when selecting a good divorce solicitor?
Probably the most critical turn of events in life happen, when you take the decision to disconnect completely and forever from the person with whom you have lived the most significant part of your life and shared a flood of memories. It is never easy when a significant relationship as marriage suffers an end with a divorce. Coping with divorce is easier said than done, yet you need to confront and deal with it. A divorce - whatever be the reason can be unsettling disrupting your routine, your relationships with your extended family and friends and even your identity. With an uncertain future and emotional anxiety to cope with, it is essential that you find a good divorce solicitor who will both represent and help protect your legal rights.
However, even before you begin the legal proceedings it is important that you know whether you are entitled to apply for a divorce. According to the U.K Law, one is eligible to file a divorce if:
- Married for a period of minimum 12 months and one whose marriage has suffered permanent breakdown
- Marriage is legally recognized in the U.K
- The pursuer or one who applies for divorce must possess a permanent home in either England or Wales
Having crossed the first hurdle towards seeking a divorce, you need to identity a ground strong enough to establish a broken marriage or an irretrievable marital breakdown. As stated by the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 a marriage may be deemed non-functional if one of the following grounds is established:
- If either husband or wife commits adultery with someone else of the opposite sex
- If either husband or wife’s unreasonable behaviour such as physical and verbal abuse, alcoholism or drug addiction makes it difficult for either of them to live with their counterpart.
- If either husband or wife has deserted the other in order to end the relationship for more than 2 years
- If either husband or wife have lived apart for more than 2 years and agree to the divorce
- If either husband or wife have lived apart for more than 5 years even if either one of the spouse disagrees with the divorce.
- It is important that you select a specialist divorce solicitor with an experience of not less than 5 years. The solicitor should be updated on the latest additions in the divorce and family law.
- A solicitor should be registered with the Law Society and is registered and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Check these websites for more information: www.sra.org.uk, www.lawsociety.org.uk
- It is important you interview atleast 2 to 3 divorce solicitors before selecting one among them. You should be able to get along with your solicitor in order to sail smoothly through the divorce process.
- Resolution accredited solicitors are specialists in family law and are capable of providing expert advice and guidance in relation to financial matters and inheritance. For more information please visit: www.resolution.org.uk
- Ideally a good divorce solicitor should be prepared to consider a negotiable settlement between both parties that is, settling all familial and financial issues without litigation. However, he should also be willing to litigate your case before a judge if matters are not in your favour.
- Remember, first impression counts. Prepare your questions; narrate incidents, events that will provide a strong ground for divorce. Your solicitor should be able to understand and guide you best for the next course of action to be taken without killing time.
- Above everything else, you should definitely plan your costs towards the divorce procedures. Incase of minimum resources, you can always request a junior solicitor to handle your case with time to time supervision by his or her senior.
At the end of it all, it is always worthwhile to seek advice from a good divorce solicitor. What’s more, a good solicitor not only provides expert objective counsel but also makes life simple by avoiding delays and mistakes in legal paper work so that you emerge out of the process emotionally and psychologically sound and optimistic.
Today, there are thousands of law firms and consultancy websites to help you sail through the divorce process. However you need to make the right decision in selecting a good divorce solicitor who makes the legal process hassle-free.
