Hi all,

I'm thinking about targeting divorce attorneys to get names of recently divorced folks or purchasing leads of the recently divorced. Has anyone done this and if so, have you had any luck? I feel a bit ambulancechaserey, but it seeks like it could work. Thoughts?

Like many ideas, this is one that you have to try for awhile and see if it produces any results or not. You can certainly buy lists of those filing for divorce and contact divorce attorneys. If you are going to work this angle, don't wait until the divorce is granted before you contact anyone. By then, if a sale or purchase is likely, it may have already been planned for, with an agent lined up by one of the parties or one of the attorneys. If you are going to try to have a long-term relationship with attorneys, you should have some face-to-face meetings to build some trust. Don't just mail a flyer and expect referrals.

Why not visit the Family Court in your area and review the Court Docket to gather Proceedings Pending and Decrees Issued. I read about Filings and Divorces Granted (and that New One in Vermont - Civil Unions Dissolved) which is published every two weeks or so. Great Reading ! I usually know someone !

But when they're at Divorce Court, it's probably a little late. Get in early. 50% of Marriages will get there, so doing that Froy thing of just knocking on doors will give you good odds.

Around here, many people would get married to a Mortgage BEFORE they will get married to each other. Those won't be accessible.

I don't think any Attorney in Her/His right mind is going to be contributing the names of their Clientele to any mailing list; but who knows . . . . No, just doesn't have that smell of money ! Besides, they are taught something about Client Confidentiality in Law School. Big obstacle !

That's fun to think about. Good Luck ! Let us know if any the Esquires bite ! Maybe at $5000 a pop (scrubbed against the DNC List).

$$Kate$$:

When I mentioned developing relationships with attorneys, it definitely was from the angle of you establishing your credibility and trust with the attorney, and if appropriate, the attorney will provide your contact info to a client who might need your services. It will be up to the client to contact you. What Vermont007 mentioned about attorneys not giving you contact info for their clients is true. Don't expect that to happen. The client would have to give their permission. Also, some attorneys may give their clients names of three agents and leave it up to the client to pick one, for CYA purposes.

With 50% divorce rates in America just use the Phone Book.

Thanks for your input folks.

I misspoke in my original post. I don't expect attorneys to hand over their client's info but rather to recommend my services after having gained their trust through a series of conversations and meetings.

I'll let y'all know how it goes and in the meantime if anyone has done this and has tips, please pass them along!

An attorney or other professional can always be a gold mine if you become a 'preferred partner.'

There are a couple keys to doing this, IMHO. First is getting the opportunity to impress them with your services. Walking into an office and asking for the business is one way... and may or may not be effective. Second, the obvious question they may ask is what's in it for them? And since in my state we cannot share commissions with attorneys the answer to that might be a little complicated. Of course the most beneficial thing 'for them' is knowing you'll do a good job if recommended.

So perhaps another approach would be to do intensive target marketing to divorce attorneys in your area. One or more of them, by pure chance and determination on your part, are bound to call you to list their home and help them buy a new one. You can do a bang-up job for them and wine and dine them after closing. At that point you are their 'preferred partner.' Right?

Another option for the single Realtors on the forum would be to marry a divorce attorney. Then you're pretty much automatically the 'preferred partner.' Very similar to the Realtor-Lender marriages that seem to be found around every turn.

Good luck!

We have one of those situations where a Broker is married to an Esquire. But he is so concerned about avoiding a real or even perceived "Conflict of Interest" he won't even represent her Clients/Customers in Real Estate Transactions, let alone refer business to her . . . . ANYONE except her. I like it that I've been the recipient/beneficiary of his spin-offs.

I thought that maybe just "Shacking Up" would solve that issue; but it, too, presents perception problems for those who want their Broker to be just as Squeaky Clean as the Day She was Born. Well, that's Life. It's always somethin' !

I'm just glad the local Newspaper publishes the Family Court proceedings every Thursday. It's a worthy supplement to the Social Register.

I have no intention of trying to base my business on the misfortune of others, therefore I will not chase either the divorce records or the obituaries.

Having said that I will also say that many of my REO listings over the last several years have been the result of a divorce. Often times the mortgage requires both incomes and when one goes away the other can no longer support the payments.

Instead of focusing on the divorces, what about newlyweds? They may be first time buyers soon, may sell 1-2 properties to buy 1 bigger one.

Consider if you will, the following issues that come to mind.

First, there are usually two “adverse” parties involved in a divorce, with their own attorney’s who would have to mutually agrees on utilizing your services. Also bear in mind that adverse parties in a matrimonial action, tend to not agree on any number of things.

Second, there may be the local Bar Association that may have rules regarding a breach of the attorney’s fiduciary duty of “confidentially”. An attorney, of course can retain the services of anyone,on behalf of a client, provided he or she has the express instructions of their client, and if so instructed, may while acting in the best interest of their client endeavour to negotiate a reduction of your commission in a real estate transaction.

Third, is which side (spouse) would you be working for or would you act as a dual agent or a facilitator, either of which could involve some liability for you, with two attorney’s looking over your shoulder. You would also be expected to keep all parties and their attorney's fully informed and up-to-date.

Important Notice: This information is provided as basic educational information by the author and is not a substitute for the advice of an expert and/or the advice of a lawyer. There is NO representation as to legality, accuracy, correctness of the herein information and the reader is strongly urged to consult a lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction to ensure accuracy before acting on this information .

The Devil's Advocate's suggestions should be heeded. I've always been a Student of the Human Condition; but these Divorce Situations have taught me that When something is Hot, you could get Burned ! Just the mentioning of the Topic reminds me that sometimes both (or all) of the Parties in an argument can be delusional. My most fun Masochistic Activity has been trying to market a house owned by an Estranged Couple where each Party had already retained their respective Divorce Attorneys AND are "Shacking Up" with a new (however transient) Squeeze. So we had seven (7) Human Opinions regarding how things should be done (or priced); each with their own set of motivations. The 7th (the odd man out) is ME.

An absolute MAD HOUSE. After this one, I concluded I must be just as looney as that bunch ! Sometimes the only "Close to Sane" person is the Presiding Judge in Divorce Court who has to live and breathe this stuff 7 days a week ! Little mundane issues like "Who" should have occupancy while the Agent is trying to sell it. Judge, "It would be nice IF the Occupant was someone who actually wants it sold; Please Judge, not an Obstructionist !"

I forgot that the Judge is our 8th Decision Maker; 8 BEFORE we even think about mixing in that critical and catalytic ingredient called prospective "Buyers".

After a major Ant Infestation was discovered; NOBODY wanted to be the Occupant ! So they wanted the Judge to authorize renting it out? . . . . while awaiting a Sale. That's another "can of worms ants" !

Regular Human Beans are bad enough to deal with; but if you have an occasional hankering for a serious time-wasting exotic activity, Divorce Situations are a good choice ! At least it isn't B O R I N G ! And I cannot imagine dealing with more than one such situation at a time !

In my case, it is a MIRACLE: No one got shot; house got sold; I got paid.

WOW that's one heck of a story lol
After reading that last post, I don't think want to even hear the word divorce...

Dan Ortiz ABR CRS CREOS (Hablo Espanol)
Licensed Broker/Owner
Manor Gate Real Estate of NY Inc

"If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait till you hire an amateur" Red Adair