Divorce: is it best to have a local solicitor?

[coronabeer]

Need to find a new divorce solicitor as I felt the last one was incompetent (loads of errors in her letter of advice, and then additional fees charged to correct her mistakes).

Anyway, wondering how important it is to have a local solicitor with the increasing use of Zoom and similar? I think there's a high chance this divorce settlement will end up in court.

I would say it's better to trust and like your solicitor than to have a local one.

Local is good for knowledge of housing market/local salaries etc. Plus getting to court, hearings are increasingly back to in person, and that will increase.

But yes, confidence is key.

Thanks.

Husband shopped around for solicitors so much that there aren't many local ones left. A couple that were recommended to me, I can't use because he has already seen them. (Suspect he wasn't hearing what he wanted to hear).

Just worried that if the case ends up in court, it will cost extra in solicitors fees if the court is not local to them and they have to travel. Sorry, not sure how this all works.

If he's only made enquiries with the solicitors firms and not instructed them to act, then there shouldn't be an issue for you to approach them as there is no conflict of interest. You could technically employ the same firm if they have plenty of solicitors and they have had no knowledge or involvement in your ex's instruction - both parties would have to sign a form to say they understand the firm is acting for both parties and they consent - I probably wouldn't recommend it though and they would probably say it would be easier to instruct someone else too.

I recommend shopping around for a trusted one.

Ideally yes, a local firm however, they have to be on the ball and know what they're doing and show they were fiercely acting in my best interest. If you have a divorce with any kind of complexity, you'd have to spend more time searching for someone who has that experience.