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Going through divorce is never a walk in the park. Emotions run on high and dirty laundry are inevitably aired. It becomes a more harrowing experience when there are kids in the family equation. Many New Zealand families are torn apart by divorce every year. As much as you want to shield them from the turbulent proceedings and the pain of it all, you can only do so much. They certainly are involved and affected by the entire thing, especially with regards to custody issues.

In New Zealand, the only ground for getting a divorce or dissolution of marriage is for the husband and wife to be estranged for two years. After the lapse of the 2 year period, the parties can then go to court and apply for an order which will dissolve their marriage. In order to fight for your cause effectively, you need someone on your side, advocating your crusade.

You need a lawyer who will prepare and arrange the service of the applications for the dissolution of your marriage. Ever wondered how to find a divorce lawyer in New Zealand?

Five Places to Find a Divorce Lawyer in New Zealand.

1. The easiest way to go is to ask friends and family for referrals. Surely someone you know has had a legal encounter of some sort. If not them, then probably someone they know. This network can potentially yield a lawyer that has been tried and tested. Trust is something that should be present in a lawyer-client relationship. With this referral system, building trust will come fairly easier, knowing the lawyer has been of commendable service to someone close to you, or known to someone close to you.
2. Check the New Zealand Bar Association. A Bar Association is an organization for New Zealand lawyers. They have listings of lawyers practicing in different fields. The set-back here is that you would be choosing from a long list of lawyers who are strangers to you. You could “shop around” for your lawyer by paying them a visit or calling their number first to check if the first consultation is free. If it is, go check out the lawyer and see how you feel about him/her.
3. Go through your local town’s Yellow Pages. Lawyers are often listed there particularly in the bigger towns of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. You can get their contact information and set up an appointment so you can meet the lawyer in person. continue reading…

Lawyers bear a certain responsibility towards their clients. A lawyer may serve as your representative, advisor, negotiator, intermediary, and/or advocate. With so much interaction and exchange of crucial information, it is excruciatingly important that the client and attorney have grounds for trust in each other. Understanding the responsibility your lawyer owes you and the responsibility you bear towards your attorney may help you establish trust.

Lawyers’ responsibilities to you as a client include these things.

· Adhering to strict rules of conduct and ethics

· Communicating with you effectively and in a timely manner

· Following your instructions

· Representing you in professional manner

· Safekeeping your money or property, and returning it to you promptly when you ask

· Treating you loyally (no conflicts of interest)

· Treating your privileged case information confidentially

Your lawyer needs to be someone you can trust to do what you want and only what you want in your case. He needs to know the right information and know how to communicate that information in a way that reads clear to a specific audience. However, it can prove difficult for an attorney to fulfill his or her responsibilities when the client does not then fulfill their own responsibilities.

Your responsibilities as a client to your lawyer are comprised of these items.

· Attending legal proceedings when asked

· Being accessible and available

· Being cooperative, courteous, and responsive

· Being honest

· Maintaining contact and communication

· Paying your legal bills on time

· Understanding that your lawyer has additional clients

Remember these responsibilities to each other and your lawyer-client relationship should benefit your lawyer as well as you.

By: Tara Pingle