I have posted previously about the “style” of your divorce attorney.    This post goes a bit deeper into how your attorney may effect the process, cost and outcome of your divorce.  There are some attorneys who have reputations, and their reputation as an aggressive, tough, or smart attorney will get them clients who feel that they need a “bulldog” divorce attorney so they don’t get taken to the cleaners.  If you find out your spouse has hired a “bulldog”, then you too will feel compelled to hire the same style of attorney so you yourself don’t get the short end of the stick.  Folks, this is absolutely the wrong approach here.  This may sound cliche, but I use it daily: A divorce is a problem to be solved, not a battle to be won.  When choosing an attorney, I suggest for you to think about the following, and really determine if a “bulldog” is truly who you want representing you.

1. No one wins in a divorce.  No one loses in divorce.  You both have lost your marriage.  Divorce is not about winning and losing.  Most divorces are settled through agreements made between the parties and their has to be a great deal of compromise from each side.

2. Over 90% of divorces do not go to trial.  Why would you spend a lot of extra money on an attorney who is a trial expert?  Focus on the negotiating skills of the attorney.

3. Kansas has a 60-day waiting period before your divorce can be final.  Why would you hire an attorney that averages 12 – 18 month long divorces?  Admittedly, some complicated divorces, high assets, family owned business, inheritance, etc., may take more time.  However, the average divorce should not take one year to complete.  You want an attorney that works on helping you learn to communicate better with your spouse, cope with the changing dynamics and assist you in making decisions that will lessen the negative impact on you, your children and their well-being.