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Signs a Divorce Attorney is Wrong For You

by | Jul 10, 2021 | Divorce

Finding the right divorce attorney

Finding a divorce attorney is easy. Finding the right divorce attorney is the trick. Are there some obvious and not so apparent red flags that you hired the wrong lawyer? Absolutely. When most people embark on divorce and need to find a divorce attorney, they call their neighbor, cousin, sister, or best friend. And then ask for their attorney’s name and number. This is the WORST way to find the best attorney. Start by spending some time researching the various ways you can get divorced, decide which type is best suited for you, and then find an attorney who practices the style you choose.

There is self-representation, mediation, collaboration, and litigation. Suppose you are on the lookout for a reputable divorce lawyer. In that case, you need to be aware of certain red flags that could be detrimental to your lawsuit.

1) Absence of Compassion

Divorce is no easy matter, and divorce attorneys should be compassionate about this. Working with someone during such a challenging time requires a certain amount of selflessness. An aggressive go-get-them type of attorney might seem like the best option at first. A divorce attorney who genuinely cares about what is best for you and your family will serve you better.

2) Not Enough Specialization

Basically, when you hire an attorney to represent you during a divorce, common sense says they would be a divorce attorney. Keep in mind, specialized attorneys exist for a reason. You ought to make it a point before you hire an attorney to ask about their past cases and what their area of knowledge is in. Asking the correct questions will end up saving you a lot of time, money, and stress in the long run.

3) Poor Communication

Your divorce attorney should be ready and willing to communicate with you through every step of the process. If they repeatedly ignore your phone calls, text messages, or e-mails, it is a bad sign. Additionally, suppose they do not get back to you within a reasonable amount of time. In that case, it could mean that they simply do not care enough about your case to make an effort necessary.

Something to consider – Is my divorce attorney bringing out the best or the worst in my spouse?

One regrettable reality is that if your spouse chooses an attorney first and chooses an aggressive attorney, you will have no choice but to hire an equally aggressive one. If you don’t meet that level of aggression, you will likely get run over.

Talk to a Divorce Attorney

In summary, you don’t need to get along with your attorney, but you do need to trust him or her. Whipple, Mercado & Associates, LLP, has the qualifications, reputation, personal qualities, and professional credentials that get results across the spectrum of family law matters — from premarital agreements to divorce and domestic violence restraining orders. Our Best Family Law Attorney with extensive legal knowledge, openness to your ideas, and attentive personal service can pave the way for your family’s brighter future. Call us at 925-344-5050 to schedule a free consultation or contact us here

Divorce

Family

Children

Tammy J. Mercado

Tammy J. Mercado has a passion for helping her clients achieve their desired results. She listens and she personally and promptly responds to your texts, emails and phone calls. She offers real solutions to your legal matters. Tammy will carefully evaluate the legal issues in your case, provide you with sound advice and offer you the pros and cons of each possible scenario so you can meet your legal objectives. She encourages clients to participate in their own matters. Tammy believes that client participation is key to a positive result and to keeping attorney fees as low as possible. You can be sure that she will offer you straightforward, sound and honest advice in a professional manner, with integrity and excellence.

Before opening her own law practice, Tammy worked for many high-volume law firms. This gave her extensive, diversified experience in hundreds of complex family law cases as well as civil matters. She is admitted to practice law before all courts in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Tammy is also a member of the Rotary Club of Danville.

Tammy is a graduate of John F. Kennedy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix. Tammy is also a licensed real estate broker, which comes in handy for valuing property in family law cases as well as real estate matters in the civil arena.

During her off time, Tammy is an avid sailor who crews and races on various boats in the San Francisco Bay. Tammy approaches each case as she would any yacht race: by assessing the other’s strengths, weaknesses, experience, equipment, history and reputation. She is a member of the American Sailing Association, and she is a certified Coast Guard Auxiliary member.

HONORS AND AWARDS
Tammy was selected to receive the prestigious “Business Person of the Year” Award in 2017 for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy is currently serving as Danville Rotary President for 2017 through 2019.

Mary C. Whipple, CFLS

Mary C. Whipple opened her first law practice in the summer of 2008. She previously was an associate attorney at the Law Office of Cummins & Holmes, a full-service civil litigation law firm in San Ramon. The majority of her experience is in family law, which includes divorce, custody, support, prenuptial agreements and domestic-violence restraining orders. Certified by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, she is a specialist in the area of family law. Mary has also represented clients in a variety of non-family-law cases, including juvenile dependency, probate, breach of contract and employment disputes, to name a few.

Mary also previously worked as a contract attorney for O’Melveny & Meyers in San Francisco while simultaneously volunteering at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, representing defendants in unlawful detainer actions. The program acknowledged Mary with an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award in 2006 for her efforts in providing access to justice.

A seventh-generation Californian, Mary is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in criminology at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. She is a member of the State Bar of California, the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association.

In addition, Mary is active in her community as a member of the Ambassador’s Committee for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce; a volunteer at the Contra Costa County and Alameda County Superior Courts, where she assists self-represented litigants in completing their divorces; and a member of Divorce Angel, where she provides information regarding family law matters to members of the community. Since 2007 she has been a volunteer judge for Alameda and Contra Costa County’s Annual High School Moot Court Competition. She is also a member of the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club. She was awarded the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Person of the Year; and a graduate of the 2012 class of Leadership San Ramon Valley.

CERTIFIED LEGAL SPECIALTIES
Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization