Call : 925-344-5050
Client Portal Login
Whipple Mercado Law

5 Best Factors to Decide on the Right Divorce Attorney

by | Feb 10, 2021 | Divorce

divorce attorney

A divorce attorney is a lawyer who deals with family law issues, such as visitation and child custody, spousal support, and child support payments. Choosing the best divorce lawyer can feel like an overwhelming process, especially because it’s such an important decision.  

Navigating the legal system often involves complex strategies and procedures, so anyone facing a divorce needs professional legal assistance. 

Hiring an experienced divorce lawyer is the best way to protect yourself during this process. With that in mind, here are 5 factors to help you choose the right divorce lawyer.

1. Reputation

Reputation is an essential factor to consider if you’re involved in divorce proceedings. A reputable law firm should have an excellent rating and positive client reviews. Knowing that your divorce attorney has a good reputation will give you peace of mind. In most cases, you can find testimonials online. 

2. Budget

Family law attorneys charge different rates depending on various factors, including things like their location and experience. To find the right attorney, it’s essential to ask relevant questions. If you have a budget in mind, be sure to ask for details about their retainer and hourly fees. A written quote is essential because it acts as a baseline for your budget. 

3. Experience

Experience in family law is essential since you need a lawyer who specializes in divorce, and possible issues related to it. A divorce attorney will be familiar with divorce proceedings in a court of law.

Ideally, an experienced divorce lawyer should already have a few years on the job. This is especially important if the case needs to go to court. 

Related Content: 5 Reasons You Need a Divorce Attorney

4. Compatibility

Divorce proceedings involve private and sensitive information about your life. A trustworthy lawyer should have the ability to protect your privacy. Be sure to choose a law firm with an outstanding reputation. Factors such as gender, age, and personality can also help you select a divorce lawyer who makes you feel comfortable during this difficult time. 

5. Availability

It’s also a good idea to choose a family law firm that’s within easy driving distance to minimize travel. You won’t want to be spending any extra time in traffic. Keeping it local will require less time out of your busy day, and help establish a more convenient relationship with your lawyer.

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