Divorce And Annulment Lawyers In Toronto

Finding the right divorce and annulment lawyers in Toronto is of the utmost importance, not just for your wallet, but also for your family’s future and your own sanity.

With that in mind, we’re going to talk you through some of the traits and things you can expect from a good lawyer, along with some of the warning bells you should try and avoid at all costs.

Traits of reputable divorce and annulment lawyers in Toronto

Let’s start with what you should ideally be looking for in a divorce or annulment lawyer. A lot of the following will be mainly based on common sense and good legal practices, but you should also listen to your gut instinct when you meet with a potential divorce lawyer for the first time. A good lawyer should be able to:

• Listen carefully and be able to provide balanced advice.
• Make you feel at ease and explain each part of the process to you.
• Be clear and upfront with a clear contract and terms of payment (no hidden fees later on).
• Reassure you but also kindly point out when you are wrong.
• Communicate effectively, without leaving you in the dark forever waiting on an email or phone call.
• Be compassionate, but also provide a professional level of detachment.
• Deliver bad news even if it’s not always what you want to hear.
• Be professional and not overly aggressive towards your spouse’s lawyer/legal team.

Signs you should be wary of 

As we begin to creep into the bad territory, below are signs that you should be wary of a potential lawyer, and should perhaps hint that you should consider looking elsewhere for legal services:

• Poor attitude: If you’re lawyer’s attitude is poor, condescending or unprofessional from the get-go, it probably won’t improve as things get more complicated.
• Unreturned calls and emails: You should always expect calls and emails to be returned in a timely manner.
• Guarantee of victory in court: Be very wary of a lawyer who promises your case is a ‘slam dunk’.
• Unkempt, disorderly office: A sign your potential lawyer is highly unprofessional or doesn’t have enough staff.
• No references: A big alarm bell should go off if your lawyer is unable – or refuses – to provide references.
• Lack of clear contract or payment terms: You should always know what you’re getting into before you enter a contract, including how much it’s going to cost you.

Worst case scenario 

Below is the absolute worst of the worst, and if you experience some of these, it’s probably wise to terminate your contract and look elsewhere.

• Missed deadlines: A missed deadline can have a seriously negative impact on your case, and is unacceptable.
• Excessive billing/hidden expenses: If you’re paying over the odds, or for unknown charges, ask for clarification.
• Overly aggressive approach: Your lawyer should not try to one-up your spouse’s lawyer or try to aggravate them during the process.
• Bad online reviews: Upset or disgruntled ex-clients are a huge warning sign.

Are you looking for a family lawyer in Toronto? If yes, then look no further than Fine & Associates. We will fight aggressively to protect your rights and interests during your divorce!