Astoria Divorce Lawyer

Divorce Rate In New York

Why Do People Get Divorced?

Why are more people getting divorced?

The divorce rate in New York has increased dramatically in recent years. As a result of the Covid pandemic, more people are getting divorced because they’ve been couped up for too long with their spouses, and this close proximity has caused ordinary conflicts to become magnified. So, some have decided to take the dive and prepare for a new life. Maybe when they first started dating, everything was wine and roses, but the close proximity of shelter in place and the ensuing financial burdens incurred during covid have exacerbated marital problems to the point of irreconcilable differences. Some couples are just throwing in the towel and opting to move on with their lives.

The average length of a marriage in the U.S. is eight years.  

Prenuptial Agreement Queens, NY

The Next Big Hurdle: Choosing the Right Divorce Lawyer

If you’re getting a divorce during covid, it’s important that you choose your lawyer carefully. This can be a tricky process because some lawyers offer services in practice areas they are familiar with, but not experts in. They might be considered “jacks of all trades, masters of none.” You’ll have to do your homework diligently when searching for a divorce lawyer, so that you don’t end up making a mistake and hiring the wrong one. Remember, this is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life: getting divorced. Proceed with caution!
Queens & Nassau Divorce Lawyers & Family Lawyers

Attorney Jimmy Solomos

Here are some things that can go wrong…

You may end up signing an agreement that takes away some of your rights, especially ones that could have been protected by a quality attorney. You may sign a custody agreement that is not favorable to you. Asset division is especially detailed and complicated. Trying to do this alone is a “fool’s errand”.

Do your homework!

Choose a local attorney in your area. Make sure their office is convenient to get to. You will want to, and have to, meet with the lawyer at some point. Even though the courts are closed now, for the most part, going to your attorney’s office to meet with them in person is a must.
Make sure you look up the attorney on Google and Yelp and read their reviews. Read ALL of them. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. See what others are saying about the lawyer’s experience in similar cases, and their attitudes towards their clients. Do the reviews sound like their clients were respected? Treated well?

Hiring a lawyer is like a marriage in and of itself, so be sure and pick the right one!

After you’ve read the lawyer’s reviews, look at their website. Does the information there impress you? Does it show that the lawyer is experienced in Family Law and Divorce Law? After you’ve rendered your decision, now send the lawyer an email or a message from their Google Business Page. The reason I say this is because a lawyer may tell you anything on the phone, but why not wait and see how long it takes them to respond to your email? The way they act now, before you hire them, is a foreshadowing of things to come. If it takes the lawyer 3 days to respond to your message or email, you can expect the same treatment after you hire them – not good!

Next Thing: Price. How Much is it going to cost you?

Tread lightly here, because price is a touchy area. Some people may look for the lowest price, thinking all divorces are the same. They are not! They are as different as the couples getting them. And just as not all the divorces are the same, neither are the lawyers. The quality of a lawyer- and what they can do for you, varies from law firm to law firm. You will probably pay more for an attorney who specializes in divorce, but please consider your alternatives. What are you going to do, hire a car mechanic to handle your divorce, just because they offer a lower rate?

Finally; The Phone, The Zoom..The Meet

When you finally get to meet with your prospective attorney, make sure you ask some probative questions; How long have you been in practice? What percentage of your practice is divorce? Should I get a contested or non-contested divorce? And throw in a “red herring” just to test the water: “One of my friends got divorced and she told me she lied in court about her husband abusing the children. She got custody. Can I do this?” If the lawyer says “yes”, maybe you’d better pass and try another one.
In summation, the divorce rate is up and expected to spike even higher when the Covid 19 Omicron Variant hits. Look for a good, honest lawyer to represent you in a dignified manner.