Empowering Families

Yesterday, a woman called my office in tears, feeling completely overwhelmed and unhappy with her current divorce lawyer. She felt misunderstood and believed her attorney wasn’t truly supporting her. She was questioning whether it was okay to change lawyers midstream. While it’s common for people to switch attorneys during the process, wouldn’t it be ideal if you could find the right lawyer from the start?

I’m Katherine Miller, and I’ve been a divorce attorney in New York City and New York State for over 30 years. I’ve put together some tips to help you choose the right divorce attorney the first time around. Here are three essential tips, and you can download a PDF with nine tips if you’re interested.

1. Know What You Want and Understand Your Options.
It’s important to identify what’s most important to you personally, not what you think might be important to your soon-to-be ex. Consider what you want to achieve and how you’d like to approach the process. You don’t need a specific name for it, but you should be prepared to discuss your goals and preferences.

2. Interview at Least Three Lawyers.
I know this might seem like a hassle and could involve paid consultations, but it’s worth the effort. Meeting with multiple attorneys will give you a clearer understanding of how they approach your case and their strategies for handling it. This will help you determine who might be the best fit for your needs.

3. Talk to Others Who Have Been Divorced.
Seek out people who have actually gone through the divorce process, not just those who think they know about it. Learn from their experiences—what they would avoid, what they would do differently if they had to go through it again, and what they found most helpful. This insight can be invaluable as you navigate your own divorce.

If you’re interested in learning about the other six tips, click on this link. I’ll be happy to send the full PDF to you. Thanks for listening.