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Hiring the Right Attorney is not Accidental

mycasewebsites2 • February 9, 2014

I handled my own divorce. I could do that. Would I do it again? Probably not. The truth is that I overlooked some key issues because I was too close to the action. As a result, when my ex-wife moved my children to another jurisdiction, I had no recourse. In order to regain the protection of a Court Order, I was forced to hire a lawyer who was connected to the new jurisdiction to petition the Court there to adopt my out-of-state Order and modify it.
I started the process with an internet search of lawyers in the county where I needed to file. This is important. Local lawyers know and are known. They know how a particular judge will lean, what they like to hear and see, and whether what you want is doable. I also asked friends and co-workers with connections to the county for recommendations.
I narrowed my list to four attorneys and made appointments with them all in one day. Some had initial consultation fees, some did not. The highest was $99. I paid the fees. I wanted a good lawyer. As it turned out, I met with the “Old-School Smoker,” “The Bulldog,” “The Social Worker,” and “My Guy.” As you might imagine, “My Guy,” is the one I hired. He was the next to last appointment of the day, and I almost did not go. “The Bulldog” almost got my business. At the last minute, I read an online review that inferred that The Bulldog seeded conflict in order to keep the fees coming, so I went to see My Guy and I am glad I did.
When you go to your appointments, here are a few questions to which you need answers:
Will you communicate directly with the attorney or an assistant?
What different outcomes can the lawyer predict for your case?
What are the chances of success for your non-negotiable goals?
What alternatives to litigation might be considered?
Should mediation be considered?
How long will it take to get to your goals?
How often will you be billed, and what’s the lawyer’s estimation for fees and services?
Does the lawyer offer flat fees or other alternatives to hourly rates?
How will the lawyer inform you of the case’s progress?
What style can you expect from the lawyer: aggressive or open to settlement?
Will others be assisting in the case?
Is the lawyer covered by malpractice insurance?
Hiring a lawyer is likely to be one of the more important decisions you will make. Take your time. You are the prospective employer. Interview the lawyer. Put him/her through the paces. If they won’t take the time to make you comfortable up front, what are the chances of them going the extra mile after you are signed/paid up?
Back to My Guy. He had a clean, modest office that indicated good taste without extravagance. He wore a suit and tie. He answered my questions. His rates were reasonable and he was flexible with the terms, to a degree. He was serious about helping me with my problem. He did just that.

Love is a Battlefield-VA Disability Payments in Divorce

By mycasewebsites2 • August 29, 2018
Mobile, Alabama has its fair share of military service members, veterans, and retirees. Sometimes, those folks get divorced. When they do, the military spouse’s military retirement is subject to equitable division by the Court. Either the parties agree on the division of military retirement or the Court divides it. In any event, the non-military spouse […] The post Love is a Battlefield-VA Disability Payments in Divorce appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Making Up Is Hard to Do

By mycasewebsites2 • April 24, 2018
Thankfully, I’ve recently had a spate of couples who have decided to try and make their marriages work after filing a divorce. In a couple of instances, even after a great deal of fighting and legal wrangling, I’ve had clients lay down their swords and engage in reconciliation. I love it when that happens. In […] The post Making Up Is Hard to Do appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

What’s Different about McBay Law?

By mycasewebsites2 • September 5, 2017
I grew up watching Sesame Street. I loved Oscar and the Cookie Monster. One of my favorite regular skits was the “One of These Things is Not Like the Other.” I loved picking out the thing that was different. Of course, there were only ever four “things,” so choosing what was different was relatively easy. […] The post What’s Different about McBay Law? appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Free Milk and a Cow: Common Law Marriage

By mycasewebsites2 • July 6, 2017
More than 30 years ago, the Georgia Satellites released a song about a marriage ultimatum: “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.” The lyrics document the struggle between the singer and his lover over the terms of their relationship. We don’t know how that story ends; whether the couple married or split up. The song came to […] The post Free Milk and a Cow: Common Law Marriage appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Step-Parents and Custody Fights

By mycasewebsites2 • June 6, 2017
For those of you reading my blog for the first time, I am a divorce and family law attorney who is divorced, has children, has remarried, and has another child in my current, and final marriage. Confused? Don’t be. I often write from the perspective of a Dad who has children for whom I have […] The post Step-Parents and Custody Fights appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Testimony in Divorce Cases: Don’t Monologue

By mycasewebsites2 • March 30, 2017
If you have children, you’ve probably seen The Incredibles. I’ve seen it a MILLION times. One of my favorite scenes is the one in which Syndrome, who has Mr. Incredible in a seemingly inescapable situation, realizes that he is monologuing. Of course, monologuing is a common theme in all sorts of hero/villain movies. The hero is […] The post Testimony in Divorce Cases: Don’t Monologue appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Common Law Marriage Requires Regular Divorce

By mycasewebsites2 • March 22, 2017
Recent Events in Divorce and Family Law If you live in Alabama, you may know someone who has a common-law husband or wife. While only a few states recognize marriages with the absence of an official license, Alabama is no longer one of them. Before January 1, 2017, you could have avoided the ceremony, the […] The post Common Law Marriage Requires Regular Divorce appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

Waiting for the End of Time: Divorce in Mobile, Alabama

By mycasewebsites2 • December 30, 2016
As a child of the seventies and eighties, I have vivid memories of hearing “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” as performed by Meatloaf on the radio. Of course, early on, I had no frame of reference for the story told in song about the heat of passion and the consequences. For those of you who’ve […] The post Waiting for the End of Time: Divorce in Mobile, Alabama appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

The Effects of Cohabitation on Alimony in Alabama

By mycasewebsites2 • November 2, 2016
If you are paying or receiving alimony as part of a Divorce Order in Alabama, this one is for you. Under Alabama Law, the obligation to pay periodic alimony terminates upon the receiving party’s “cohabitation” with a member of the opposite sex. So, what does that mean? Under the case law, cohabitation is that thing […] The post The Effects of Cohabitation on Alimony in Alabama appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.

If it can happen to Brad Pitt, it can happen to you.

By mycasewebsites2 • September 29, 2016
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about what a mean son-of-a-bitch Brad Pitt is and that Angelina Jolie just can’t take it anymore. Multiple media outlets were eager to scoop Angelina’s side of the story about his anger management issues and how he’s a danger to the children. Lucky for Brad, […] The post If it can happen to Brad Pitt, it can happen to you. appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.
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