Let’s preface this post by saying that our attorneys do absolutely everything in their power to make sure our clients make zero mistakes when it comes to divorce. But with or without an attorney, people make mistakes. Let’s take a look specifically at the mistakes females make most often, according to HuffPost Divorce.

1. Financially clueless. There could be a mountain of debt or a mountain or riches and some wives have no idea. It’s very difficult to start the divorce process without an accurate understanding of your family’s finances.
2. “Getting started” cash. If you’re financially dependent, you can request “temporary maintenance” to cover divorce expenses. But you’ll need cash before you receive that money. Don’t try to start the process empty handed.
3. Not using an attorney. We could write books on the countless ways that you can truly negatively affect the rest of your life due to ignorance in or out of the courtroom. Unless you have a law degree, don’t think that you’ll know how to divorce someone.
4. Reacting emotionally. It’s rarely the answer. Stay calm, think rationally, and ask your attorney what the best way to handle the current situation is.
5. Settling too soon. Reaching a settlement isn’t always a bad idea, but far too many women hate the divorce process, want it to be over, and settle too soon. This leads to them not earning nearly what they should have. Women need to be financially secure for their future, and for their children. Settle when your attorney tells you it’s time.

The very last thing you want to deal with throughout a divorce process is an incompetent Family Law attorney. Believe it or not, we see clients daily who’ve tried countless other attorneys in Riverside, Corona, or Orange County. In fact, we’ve known people who have gone through ten attorneys before settling on one that truly had their best interest in mind and delivered what needed to be done.

So how do you know it’s time to find a new divorce attorney? Here are the red flags:

• Delegation: It’s a good term when it comes to business, but you want an attorney who is doing the work him/herself. Attorneys who consistently pass off work to other attorneys, or who try to get your spouse’s attorney to do the work, aren’t nearly as invested as they should be.
• Forgetful: You’re allowed to forget small details, because divorce is not your job. But you ARE paying your attorney to not forget little details, because they can be extremely important in a case. If your attorney blames you for not reminding him, isn’t sure if you sent in court documents, isn’t sure how long billable hours truly last.
• Thorough: Your divorce attorney should be organized, filling you in every step of the way. If you ever feel out of the loop, move on.

Respect: He/she needs to respect your individual needs and your situation. If you feel like your attorney is simply going through the motions as he always does, your paying way too much for that time of laziness.