Often, people seeking a divorce wish to change their attorneys while their divorce proceedings are ongoing. But can you actually change your attorney during divorce proceedings?
While Texas law does not prohibit people from changing attorneys while their divorce is underway, it is critical to weigh the pros and cons of firing your attorney and hiring a new one before making the switch.
Before changing your attorney, it is vital to understand the reasons you are not satisfied with your current attorney. In many cases, clients in divorce cases are unhappy with their legal representation due to poor communication, lack of experience, and disagreements about strategy.
At The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard, our Round Rock divorce attorneys are prepared to take on cases that were handled by other attorneys. Schedule a case review with our law firm to determine whether or not it would be reasonable to change your attorney during your divorce proceedings in Texas.
6 Reasons to Change Your Attorney While Your Divorce Case is Ongoing
While reasons clients wish to change their divorce attorneys vary from one case to another, some of the most common ones include:
Your attorney has poor communication skills. Communication between a client and divorce attorney is key to success. The quality of legal representation can suffer if the attorney does not return the client’s calls or fails to explain complex legal concepts in simple terms.
Your attorney misses deadlines. There are strict procedures and deadlines in place when seeking a divorce in Texas. The divorce judge may not look favorably upon your attorney missing deadlines. You may consider hiring another law firm if your attorney is not able to handle your divorce proceedings efficiently.
Your attorney does not listen to you. It is common for clients to complain that their attorneys are bad listeners. An attorney’s poor listening skills may result in errors in court documents and filings and wrong strategy in your divorce case. If your attorney does not fully understand what you need, he/she will not be able to help you obtain a favorable outcome.
Your attorney keeps asking the court for extensions. Sometimes, it is necessary to ask the court for extensions in your divorce case. However, when your attorney keeps asking for extensions, it may be because they cannot effectively manage your legal matters. Many attorneys handle several divorce cases at a time, which is why they may have a hard time keeping up with all their cases.
You disagree with your attorney on your divorce strategy. You need to be on the same page as your attorney when it comes to seeking a divorce. If you cannot reach a consensus regarding your divorce strategy, it may be a wise decision to change your attorney.
You disagree about the attorney’s fee. It is always advisable to have a formal agreement with your attorney that would specify attorney’s fees and structure to avoid disagreements. If you think that your attorney’s fees are not reasonable, you may want to consider hiring a new attorney.
It is a good idea to consult with a new attorney to get a second opinion if you are considering changing your attorney in the middle of your divorce case. Schedule a consultation with our divorce attorneys at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard to talk about your case.
Things to Consider When Changing a Divorce Attorney Mid-Case
There are certain things you need to consider when changing your attorney during divorce proceedings:
Your attorney may not fully control the progress of your divorce case. While some divorces are resolved fairly quickly, others can take months. You may not hear from your attorney about the updates in your divorce case for weeks on end. However, your attorney may not be to blame for the lack of developments in your case. The delays in your divorce case may be caused by overloaded court dockets.
Your attorney may not know that you are unhappy with their legal representation. If you do not tell your attorney that they are not doing what you want them to do, they may not realize that you are unhappy with something. For this reason, it may be a good idea to speak with your attorney and tell them what you do not like before changing your attorney in the middle of your divorce.
How to Change a Divorce Attorney in the Middle of Your Divorce?
The process of changing an attorney in the middle of divorce proceedings may seem too overwhelming. The last thing you need is to lose your case just because you are unable to find a replacement in a timely manner. In order to ensure that you make the right choice when hiring a new divorce attorney, follow these steps:
Interview more than one divorce attorney who might be a good fit for your divorce case. A good candidate should be willing to take on your case despite the fact that the divorce case is already ongoing.
Make sure that it is the right time to change your divorce attorney. The timing of changing your attorney mid-case is critical. Generally, it is not advisable – and, in many cases, impossible – to fire your current attorney in the days or weeks preceding a court hearing or trial.
Do not fire your current divorce attorney until you are absolutely certain about your new choice. The worst thing that can happen is firing your attorney too soon and not being represented at all until you find a replacement.
Make sure that your attorney has a sufficient amount of time to get up to speed. Depending on the complexity of your divorce case, your new attorney may need hours or days to ensure that they are up-to-date about what is going on.
Consult with a Round Rock Divorce Attorney
If you are considering changing your current divorce attorney in the middle of your case, do not hesitate to receive a free consultation from our attorneys at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard. Our attorneys will review your particular situation and advise you on your options. You can take advantage of a free consultation with our attorney by calling (254) 220-4225.
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