above: Photograph by Katrin Bolovtsova
Choose Wisely: Finding the Right Divorce or Family Lawyer
It is not unusual for divorces in Connecticut to involve complex assets such as businesses, deferred compensation, valuable collections and real estate. When selecting counsel, a party is well-served to retain an attorney who will craft sophisticated legal solutions for each client’s specific needs, has the ability to conduct discovery in an effort to identify all of the marital assets and will be accessible and communicative throughout the divorce process.
Parrino|Shattuck, PC, in Westport, has a well-earned reputation for assisting clients in complex and high-asset cases. The firm also works with a skilled team of experts, including forensic accountants, valuation professionals and mental health care providers. As you begin your search for a divorce or family lawyer, you should consider the following:
Reputation Matters
Research the credentials and reputation of each lawyer you interview. Most of Parrino|Shattuck, PC’s clients are referrals by colleagues, well-satisfied clients, and spouses of former clients. Ask friends about their experience with attorneys in the area. If this isn’t possible, family law attorneys can be found using resources like the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and American College of Family Trial Lawyers.
Partners in the Process
Divorce attorneys should assist their clients in identifying goals, and then develop a strategy to achieve these objectives. Attorneys should also obtain informed consent from clients before implementing strategies. Their expertise should include representation in matters involving Connecticut divorce law, asset division, alimony, child custody and child support.
Client service should also be a top priority. Parrino|Shattuck, PC’s attorneys, some with over three decades of experience in family law, are accessible and responsive to client needs, providing regular communication and prompt legal counseling on any issues that arise during litigation. Clients are advised to assess the accessibility of the attorneys they interview.
8 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Divorce Lawyer
Many people are aspirational in their assessment that they can achieve a quick, inexpensive and conflict-free divorce. In some cases, that assessment may be accurate. However, some divorces involve a greater degree of complexity or conflict than originally anticipated. When dealing with the dissolution of a marriage, Parrino|Shattuck, PC recommends that you select an attorney who has the skills and experience to handle complications that may develop during the case. Selecting highly skilled counsel at the inception of the legal action is the best way to ensure a smooth process and desirable outcome.
Key questions to ask when interviewing a divorce attorney:
- How accessible is the lawyer, and what is their communication style? Choosing a firm that has a commitment to consistent and clear communication will facilitate informed decisions.
- How does the attorney analyze financial data to fully discover all assets in the marital estate? Does the attorney have experience utilizing forensic accountants and other expert witnesses? It may be necessary to engage forensic accountants and expert witnesses to discover all marital assets, including cryptocurrencies, collectibles, assets held by trusts, undisclosed accounts and properties, carried interests and non-cash compensation such as stock options and restricted stock units.
- Does the attorney develop individualized legal strategies for each case, or do they take a more standard course to obtain any possible resolution? Choose an attorney who will help you identify your goals and then work to achieve them.
- Does the legal team prepare litigants for testimony—including depositions, court hearings and trial—in a timely and thorough manner? Lawyers have a duty to act with diligence and promptness. Your attorney should educate and guide you to ensure that you are prepared.
- When new information is discovered, does the lawyer have the agility to augment and/or modify the strategy in an effort to protect client interest in light of the new circumstances? Family law attorneys should be able to navigate changing circumstances with expertise and urgency.
- Does the lawyer have experience in selecting and/or communicating with child advocates, guardians ad litem and attorneys representing minors in family law litigation? If you have minor children, make sure you fully explore counsel’s experience interacting with child advocates. Future circumstances, such as undergraduate educational support, should also be addressed by counsel. It is also vitally important that families make provisions to meet any special need the children might have, such as addressing mental health issues, providing for educational requirements, and assisting with occupational therapy.
- How well-versed is the attorney in managing legal and physical custody issues? Your attorney should be accustomed to working with child custody evaluators in the event disputes cannot be resolved in a negotiated setting. If a parent relocates overseas, or a parent’s home becomes unsafe, an attorney must act swiftly and also be well versed in the applicable law.
- Does the lawyer have the requisite capacity to de-escalate conflict during negotiation, as well as to aggressively represent your interests in a litigated setting when negotiations fail to yield an acceptable agreement? It is advisable to engage an attorney who has both strong negotiation and litigation skills.
Discovery – Forensic Accounting
Misrepresentation of assets or resistance to discovery requests sometimes occurs. If concealed assets or withheld information about money, investments, real estate, business interests, foreign holdings, intangibles like cryptocurrency, retirement assets or collectables are a concern, a skilled team of forensic experts is important.
Parrino|Shattuck, PC assists clients in engaging forensic experts to perform analysis and ultimately testify with regard to claims of financial fraud or attempts to hide assets. Forensic accountants’ opinions are presented to judges, arbitrators or mediators. When interviewing an attorney, it is important to discuss their strategies for achieving full financial disclosure in the event of conflict on this issue.
When to Seek a Second Opinion
People often seek a second opinion on medical decisions, and a similar option is available concerning legal representation. Consider seeking a second opinion if:
- You feel ill-informed concerning the status of your case or have questions about your attorney’s strategy.
- You don’t believe your attorney has conducted robust discovery to verify that your spouse’s disclosures are accurate and complete.
- Your attorney failed to assist you in identifying objectives and fashioning a strategy to attempt to achieve results consistent with those objectives. Your attorney should provide you with options that he or she recommends to assist you in making decisions.
The second opinion may reassure you that your case is on track. Or you may find that bringing in “rescue counsel” to shift tactics will achieve a better outcome. Skilled preparation and diligence are the hallmarks of a competent family lawyer.
