How Much Does an Attorney Affect the Outcome of a Divorce? 

 Posted on November 12, 2024 in Divorce

While many people think how expensive your divorce attorney is can determine the outcome of the divorce, this is not necessarily the case. There are, however, dozens of nuances and skills a particular and skillful divorce attorney brings to the table that can have an impact on the outcome of your divorce.

If you are thinking of handling your divorce on your own, you should re-think that decision. If you need a broken bone set, you go to a qualified doctor rather than trying to do it yourself. If your car needs the alternator replaced, you take it to a mechanic who has the knowledge and skills necessary to complete the task.

A divorce attorney knows every state law pertaining to divorce and has probably encountered virtually every divorce situation. This is not to say that your divorce will not have some unique aspects, but it will also have many aspects with which your divorce attorney is familiar. When you have an experienced Wheaton, IL divorce attorney from The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. as your advocate, you are likely to experience the best possible outcome.  

What Is Your Lawyer’s Role in Your Divorce?

Your divorce lawyer’s job is to promote your interests, protect your rights, and work hard on your behalf for the most favorable outcome. Your attorney will accomplish these things by doing the following:  

• Your divorce attorney will clearly explain your options every step of the way, whether those options pertain to asset division, allocation of parental responsibilities, spousal support, or other issues.

• Your personal choices and goals for your divorce are important to your divorce lawyer, who will negotiate or litigate on your behalf, depending on the situation.

• Your attorney will outline the most productive choices you can make. Since every action has a consequence, your attorney can explain the consequences of any proposed action.

• Your attorney will be able to convey your wishes more clearly to the court or to your spouse’s attorney because he or she is not hindered by the emotions that divorcing spouses have.

How Can You Gauge Whether Your Divorce Attorney is Doing a Good Job?

If you have never really had any issues requiring an attorney, it may be difficult to know whether your attorney is doing a good job on your behalf. Your divorce attorney’s job is not to punish your spouse (even if you would like to see that happen); rather his or her job is to do the following:

• Provide a comprehensive roadmap of what you can expect from the divorce from beginning to end.

• Meet every requirement and deadline, keeping you informed along the way of upcoming requirements and deadlines.

• Be fully prepared for every hearing, including always being on time, having the proper paperwork, and always behaving professionally.

• Communicate with you throughout the divorce, always ensuring you are in the loop and know what will happen next.

• Ensure you have copies of all important documentation.

• Present your options while always remembering that this is your divorce and your life, which means the final choice should always be yours.

Should You Ever Change Divorce Attorney During the Divorce?

If you are in the midst of your divorce and do not feel you and your attorney are on the same page regarding your goals, think about the situation carefully before you decide to switch attorneys. Ask yourself honestly if you are the problem in the attorney-client relationship. Are you making your attorney’s job more difficult than it has to be because of unrealistic expectations?

If you can truthfully say that you are not the problem and you simply do not feel that your attorney has your best interests at heart, then changing attorneys is necessary. Some of the most common (and valid) reasons for changing divorce attorneys in the middle of a divorce include:

• You do not feel your attorney is communicating effectively with you or ensuring you are informed about the status of your divorce. Consider changing attorneys if your divorce attorney consistently dodges your calls and emails and is not talking to you about what is happening.

• You have the nagging feeling that your divorce attorney does not have specific expertise in issues that are crucial to your case, such as a complex or high-net-worth divorce or the division of a business or professional practice.

•  It feels like your divorce attorney is not listening to your goals or desired outcomes and is making decisions without consulting you.

• Your case does not seem to be progressing as it should, and part of the reason is that your attorney has asked the court for multiple extensions for reasons you do not fully understand.

• You have a personality clash that is unlikely to resolve.

Keep in mind that the above issues are very rare during a divorce. If you did your due diligence when you hired your divorce attorney and were very clear about your goals, then changing attorneys will not likely ever be an issue you will have to deal with. Before considering changing attorneys, consider the timing and any upcoming court dates, the financial impact such a change will have on your case, and the continuity of your case.

How Can You Get the Very Best Outcome for Your Divorce?

While your attorney’s skills, knowledge, and experience are extremely important in how your divorce turns out, there are things you can do – or not do – that will help your attorney do the very best job on your behalf. For example, while you should feel comfortable with your attorney and have trust in him or her, you should not use your divorce attorney as your therapist. While your attorney certainly understands your emotional struggles, his or her job is not to be your counselor. Talk to a friend or family member, or consider seeing a licensed therapist or counselor.

Always be honest with your attorney. While disclosing every detail of your marriage may be embarrassing, your attorney needs to know what he or she is dealing with. If you fail to tell your attorney something because it does not portray you in the best light, that omission could come back to bite you and your attorney when he or she is blindsided in court.

While it is certainly tempting to paint your spouse in the worst light possible – and maybe he or she deserves it – do not go out of your way to make your spouse look bad to your attorney. Divorce attorneys understand that you have reasons for divorcing. Communicate those reasons succinctly, then move on to the part of the divorce where you find solutions and reach agreements.

If you and your spouse have spent five months of back-and-forth arguing about who gets the patio furniture, it may be time to have a talk with yourself. Do the math and ask yourself whether that patio furniture is actually worth the cost of attorney’s fees, not to mention adding months to your divorce. In other words, make smart decisions regarding what is and is not worth fighting for.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Divorce Lawyer

In the end, your choice of divorce attorney will absolutely affect the outcome of your divorce—usually positively. Speak to an experienced Wheaton, IL divorce attorney from The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. who will answer your questions honestly and knowledgeably. Our firm is one of the most prestigious firms in the area. We are a large firm with every resource you will need, while also offering exceptional client service to each of our clients. Contact The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. at 630-462-9500 to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled, compassionate divorce lawyers.