After consulting with a few attorneys or other family law professionals, the next step is to choose who to hire. Here you should either make a list of advantages and disadvantages or use your gut feeling as a guide. Who made you feel safe? Who seemed like they had your back? Who was listening You don’t have to be friends with your lawyer, but you do need to feel that they respect you and your decisions. This person will get to know every aspect of your life, so it is important that there is mutual trust.
Tips for choosing your family law professional
Once you’ve hired a lawyer, mediator, or arbitrator, you can check out the other professionals who could help you with your divorce. Here is a list of some divorce professionals you might want to consider.
Divorce coach
Divorce coaches are people who have been trained to help you with your divorce. CDC Certified Divorce Coach® accreditation is the gold standard and they are trained in communication, neuroscience, conflict management, emotional containment, dealing with lawyers and divorce financing. They are a thinking partner, source of information, and a cheerleader who can help you get out of the emotional twist of divorce and make good decisions.
Divorce broker
If you want to mediate, you need to hire a trained mediator (who may or may not be a lawyer). To begin with, the mediator needs to meet with both parties to make sure that the divorce matches the mediation. After that, they work for both of you, which is why in most cases you will also need your own lawyer.
Financial advisor
Financial planners and Certified Financial Planners® support you in personal financial planning, which includes everything from budgeting to retirement provision.
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® experts are experts in divorce financing and will work with you in a paid advisory role. You can hire them to compile your affidavit for a fee and have them run billing option scenarios so you can understand your options. Many of them are also financial advisors who sell products like insurance or mutual funds, but they cannot sell you products while you are in a CDFA® role. You can also find independent CDFA® practitioners.
Forensic accountant
If you suspect fraud, a forensic accountant can find hidden money by reconstructing income based on expenses and following the money trail.
Business / Pension Valuator
A business appraiser is trained in private business valuation and is essential if you are buying, being bought or receiving shares in a family business. A pension appraiser is able to accurately evaluate company pensions in order to split them up in the event of a divorce.
Real estate agent / mortgage broker
A real estate agent with experience in divorce can help two mismatched parties negotiate a sale.
Divorce often results in the refinancing of an existing mortgage. A mortgage broker can provide information on interest rates and terms and conditions. If you’re not buying real estate with cash, speak to a mortgage broker about mortgage availability and interest rates before closing your deal.
When one party buys the other out of the family’s home or vacation home, a real estate appraiser can determine the current market value. Hot Tip: If you don’t like the value they assigned, you can hire another one for a second opinion.
psychiatrist
Divorce often creates the need for a psychologist for the parties to the divorce and their children. Psychiatrists such as psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and licensed social workers can play a role.
It is important that you keep your energies up during a divorce. Wellness professionals such as personal trainers, nutritionists, and massage therapists can also be an integral part of your team.
The divorce professional community is quite closely related and many are members of the same associations. Many have the Certified Divorce Specialist® certification, which indicates they have received specialized training in divorce. A family law professional can refer you to other professionals they trust. Don’t be too proud to ask for the right help.
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