September 25, 2007: Oops! Britney Changes Divorce Attorney... Again

by Wendy Jaffe

Apparently disappointed by the recent ruling in her highly publicized child-custody battle with Kevin Federline, the continually troubled Britney Spears has recently been flipping from one high-profile divorce attorney to another. Laura Wasser, Esq., who seems to be the choice attorney of many major stars, stepped down last week. After the Los Angeles Superior Court ruled that Britney would have to undergo drug testing, attorney Melvin Goldsman was said to have taken over for Wasser. But even that was short-lived, as her latest rep, in what is fast becoming a game of musical lawyers, is Sorrell Trope.

In terms of longevity, Mr. Trope is hands down the longest practicing divorce attorney in Los Angeles. He is 80 years young, and has been practicing family law since he was admitted to the California bar in 1949, having represented A-list Hollywood stars from Cary Grant to Nicole Kidman and Nicolas Cage. Will the third time (this month) be the charm?

Individuals going through a divorce may switch attorneys for many reasons -- some being legitimate, some not. If you are uncomfortable with your attorney, by all means, you should consider a change. However, if you find that you are having to replace your attorney more than once, you should realize that you are not necessarily furthering your case by continuing to do this. Many divorce litigants are angry over things that occurred in their marriage, and want to punish their spouse by trying to "win" their case. But remember, family law is rarely a win/lose situation. Typically, both spouses will need to come to terms with the reality that they will win some important issues, and lose others. You are usually better off hiring an attorney from the beginning who is focused on helping you reach a fair settlement with your soon-to-be ex -- rather than one who is consumed in an effort to help you try to "beat" them.

• On The Case: How to Choose the Best Divorce Lawyer for You
• Legal Ease
• Using Special Masters to Resolve Post-Divorce Conflicts

Tuesday, May 15
at 8 pm to 8:30 EST
Out With the Tragedy: Turning Divorce into a meaningful experience
with Allison Pescosolido and Andra Brosh, founders of Divorce Detox
Learn More

Listen to podcasts of previous TeleSeminars.