hunting for attorneys

[justalayman]

Indiana

My daughter needs a divorce attorney.(if you want a long hard read, my other post lays it out) I am trying to help her through her situation. I have never had the need for one before and don't really know what to look for in interviewing one.

I realize the In. Bar Assoc. refers as well as several others groups in our area but it is difficult for them to be specific as to the competency of the lawyers they refer people to other than they meet basic requirements.

Is there anything in particular we should be looking for and listening for?
How would one find an attorney that would be "pro" injured wife rather than merely "I'll represent anybody to the best of my ability if you have the money."

Should I even be concerned with the "pro" injured wife position at all anyway?


Any help or direction would be appreciated.

 

[elamad]

More info

Indiana. What is the situation? Are there children involved? Abuse? How many years. What part of Indiana.

 

[ceara19]

Indiana

My daughter needs a divorce attorney.(if you want a long hard read, my other post lays it out) I am trying to help her through her situation. I have never had the need for one before and don't really know what to look for in interviewing one.

I realize the In. Bar Assoc. refers as well as several others groups in our area but it is difficult for them to be specific as to the competency of the lawyers they refer people to other than they meet basic requirements.

Is there anything in particular we should be looking for and listening for?
How would one find an attorney that would be "pro" injured wife rather than merely "I'll represent anybody to the best of my ability if you have the money."

Should I even be concerned with the "pro" injured wife position at all anyway?


Any help or direction would be appreciated.

You need to be more concerned with competency than point of view.

 

[seniorjudge]

Indiana

My daughter needs a divorce attorney.(if you want a long hard read, my other post lays it out) I am trying to help her through her situation. I have never had the need for one before and don't really know what to look for in interviewing one.

I realize the In. Bar Assoc. refers as well as several others groups in our area but it is difficult for them to be specific as to the competency of the lawyers they refer people to other than they meet basic requirements.

Is there anything in particular we should be looking for and listening for?
How would one find an attorney that would be "pro" injured wife rather than merely "I'll represent anybody to the best of my ability if you have the money."

Should I even be concerned with the "pro" injured wife position at all anyway?


Any help or direction would be appreciated.

hunting for attorneys

Summer is the best time. They're usually drunk and playing golf so they are easy to shoot.

Also, ask your friends and neighbors for who they think a good lawyer is.

 

[Kane]

It's not so different from finding a good professional in any other field - doctor, mechanic, whatever. If you know somebody in the field, they're the best resource. If not, you pretty much need to go and talk to them one by one.

It's crucial she finds someone she can trust and get along with. She's better off with someone she likes, than with the best attorney in town, if she doesn't trust him. That's why it's so important to go to the lawyers' offices and talk to them face to face.

She doesn't necessarily need the most expensive lawyer. The most expensive one is not necessarily the best one, and may not be the best for her, in either case.

I don't think it matters whether s/he is "pro" injured wife. If that's what she wants - then she should go for it. But I suspect a competent professional lawyer will be at least as effective as anybody with an ax to grind, political or otherwise, and maybe better.

Caution her not to choose the lawyer based merely on who promises the best results. It's more important to get someone who's honest, than optimistic.

 

[seniorjudge]

...It's not so different from finding a good professional in any other field - doctor, mechanic, whatever. ...

I respectfully disagree.

Lawyers are like dog sh*t...they're everywhere.

Now a good mechanic...that is damned hard to find !

 

[ceara19]

hunting for attorneys

Summer is the best time. They're usually drunk and playing golf so they are easy to shoot.

Also, ask your friends and neighbors for who they think a good lawyer is.

I thought attorney season didn't start until September?

 

[justalayman]

A follow up question if I may:

What does one use for bait?

 

[ceara19]

A follow up question if I may:

What does one use for bait?

Fender benders!

 

[LdiJ]

Indiana

My daughter needs a divorce attorney.(if you want a long hard read, my other post lays it out) I am trying to help her through her situation. I have never had the need for one before and don't really know what to look for in interviewing one.

I realize the In. Bar Assoc. refers as well as several others groups in our area but it is difficult for them to be specific as to the competency of the lawyers they refer people to other than they meet basic requirements.

Is there anything in particular we should be looking for and listening for?
How would one find an attorney that would be "pro" injured wife rather than merely "I'll represent anybody to the best of my ability if you have the money."

Should I even be concerned with the "pro" injured wife position at all anyway?


Any help or direction would be appreciated.

Indiana is no fault, so you really don't need to be looking for an attorney who is willing to be concerned or pro "injurred wife"...because its basically irrelevant unless domestic violence was/is involved...or other serious fitness issues are involved.

Indiana has very strict child support guidelines and very strict parenting time guidelines.

http://www.in.gov/judiciary/rules/parenting/#index
http://www.in.gov/judiciary/rules/child_support/
https://secure.in.gov/judiciary/childsupport/calculator/support.pl

Hit those links and read and thoroughly understand the information there.

Once you have done that then interview attorneys based on a thorough understanding of that information.

Unfortunately, many Indiana attorneys will treat cases "by the numbers" even when the numbers don't apply. Some will be the opposite and will cause you to spend enormous amounts of money for things that realistically can't happen. Others will broker "back room deals" to keep up their "networking" with other attorneys....and to keep judges happy.

Your daughter wants an attorney who will be honest enough with her to tell her what the sitting judge will or won't allow...but who has enough independence to buck the system if its truly warranted....AND one who reasonably communicates with the client.

Sometimes that's tough to find.

 

[justalayman]

Thanks all

to LdiJ:
no children involved, my daughter is bipolar (recently diag)and is still working on correct meds/dosages (I feel it prevents her from employability, might be just the dad talking but her history tends to prove it)

ceara19;
thanks, laughter is always welcome. I thought fender benders were used for the overpopulated species 'causidicus pessum dare'

I was looking for a the more concerned species of 'advocatus abruptio'

SJ: I can find you a great mechanic. I'll trade him for a good divorce attorney in Elkhart County, Indiana. We might be able to arrange some sort of delivery system if neccessary but I'm sure you realize most wrenches work better in familiar surroundings.

Kane;
what can I say. just plain 'thanks'. You put the "counsel" in counselor.

And thanks to all that can add anything else.

 

[LdiJ]

Ok...if kids aren't the issue, then what are the issues surrounding the divorce?...or rather, what are your concerns?

Divorce without kids is pretty simple unless there are major financial issues.

 

[Bali Hai]

Ok...if kids aren't the issue, then what are the issues surrounding the divorce?...or rather, what are your concerns?

Divorce without kids is pretty simple unless there are major financial issues.

ALIMONY for the recently diagnosed bi-polar and INJURED poor wife. What else COULD there be????

 

[justalayman]

ALIMONY for the recently diagnosed bi-polar and INJURED poor wife. What else COULD there be????

Well in Indiana it is called "spousal maintainance", and yes that is one issue.(by the way, by statute it is limited to 3 years)

Several factors figure in here;

hubby knew of my kids problems when they got together. she had been to doc's concerning this. the recent diag. was one that was a long time coming. not like this sprung up over night. ~6 months ago the doc finally applied diag.

I am just concerned about the continuation of her current medical treatment. Which BTW includes a recent (~2 wks ago) surgery that continues to have problems. Doc now seems to be concerned problems may deal with contraction of an STD. My daughter was faithful during marriage. We know hubby wasn't (he moved in with GF when he abandoned wife) leaving my kid with $0, no way to pay any bills at all.

My daughter did not work at the insistance of hubby.

Hubby hid all money
----------------------------

next.,,,,,he has 401k aquired during last year of marriage
---------------

next,,,,,,,they are in the middle of BK
------------

-------Basically hubby kept and controlled all money. Hubby dissallowed wife from working or school. My kid isn't an angel to live with but he called all the shots to intentionally put her in this financial position.

All in all it isn't a big time divorce. No real assets except for his 401k. Hubby helped feed into my kids problems (bi-polar) so I think he should help her through reaching a level plateau. Don't want the world, just her corner.

So Bali, yes, but with justification and limitations.
She is welcome to stay with me as long as neccessary (desired) for food and shelter, she just got a raw deal from hubby.

 

[Bali Hai]

Well in Indiana it is called "spousal maintainance", and yes that is one issue.(by the way, by statute it is limited to 3 years)

That's "maintenance".

And call it what you want to make it more palatable. The IRS calls it ALIMONY.


Several factors figure in here;

hubby knew of my kids problems when they got together. she had been to doc's concerning this. the recent diag. was one that was a long time coming. not like this sprung up over night. ~6 months ago the doc finally applied diag.

I am just concerned about the continuation of her current medical treatment. Which BTW includes a recent (~2 wks ago) surgery that continues to have problems. Doc now seems to be concerned problems may deal with contraction of an STD. My daughter was faithful during marriage. We know hubby wasn't (he moved in with GF when he abandoned wife) leaving my kid with $0, no way to pay any bills at all.

My daughter did not work at the insistance of hubby.

Hubby hid all money
----------------------------

next.,,,,,he has 401k aquired during last year of marriage
---------------

next,,,,,,,they are in the middle of BK
------------

-------Basically hubby kept and controlled all money. Hubby dissallowed wife from working or school. My kid isn't an angel to live with but he called all the shots to intentionally put her in this financial position.

All in all it isn't a big time divorce. No real assets except for his 401k. Hubby helped feed into my kids problems (bi-polar) so I think he should help her through reaching a level plateau. Don't want the world, just her corner.

So Bali, yes, but with justification and limitations.
She is welcome to stay with me as long as neccessary (desired) for food and shelter, she just got a raw deal from hubby.

Yes, I know you are looking for an attorney who will beat the drums to put all blame on your son-in-law. You've made that perfectly clear.

My question to you is this: Why look for a mad dog divorce attorney to beat up your son-in-law and aggressively postulate to the court in his theatrical convincing manner if all these things are true?