One of the most important steps you’ll take in your divorce comes at the very beginning. It’s the initial consultation with a lawyer, where you’ll get an overview of what’s to come and choose the person who will be at your side throughout. 

If you’re at this stage, or wondering if you’ve found a lawyer you can trust, you’ll want to listen to the conversation I recently had with  Ron Bavero, author of the entertaining and informative book about divorce,  An Elephant Doesn’t Marry A Giraffe. 

Watch on the Conversation on YouTube.

Ron, who has decades of experience as a divorce attorney, likes to point out that divorce is an $11 billion industry and that, frequently, the only people who come out ahead financially are attorneys.  That’s why he stresses the value of using an initial consultation to find a lawyer who will work with and for you, not in their own self-interest. 

He had plenty to share, including these four tips for making the most of your consultation:  

• Pay attention to how the lawyer explains the components of the divorce process. Are they clear about how you and your spouse will divide your assets, how you’ll handle child and spousal support issues, and your options for child custody? How clear are they about how they’ll address any issues of domestic violence? 
• Ask what will happen if you can’t reach a settlement in the case and need to go to trial. Some attorneys will turn a case over to a new lawyer, a trial counsel, which can escalate your costs. You don’t want to be surprised years into the case.
• Use your B.S. detector. It’s great to be agreed with, but what you want in a trusted adviser is someone who won’t sugarcoat the truth to make you feel better. You’ll save time, money, and heartache if you start out with an experienced professional who will give you a straight-up assessment of your case. 
• Get a sense of the human you’re dealing with. Yes, you want a competent, experienced professional. But more than anything else, choosing someone you like and trust is crucial. 

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About Your Host
Corey Shapiro is a New York City-based practicing divorce attorney, educator, and author.

Disclaimer
This podcast is intended to entertain and inform - not to provide legal advice. For any legal advice about your divorce or otherwise, please consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.