Family Law Attorneys: How To Find the Right One for Your Needs
Are you or someone you love looking for family law attorneys? Family law is a complex law that has the potential to change not only your life but the life of your children. In these types of cases, you want to make sure you partner with an attorney that can sympathize with you and get you the justice your family deserves.
If you are looking for a family lawyer but you aren’t exactly sure what to look for in an attorney, you came to the right place. This brief guide will cover what you need to know about finding the right family law attorney and who you can reach out to for further guidance.
Ask Friends and Family or Check Reviews
When you are looking for answers to something, you most likely turn to your best friends or family members to provide you with guidance. They tend to have the best advice, and if they’ve previously worked with family law attorneys, they can help point you in the right direction.
If they don’t know any attorneys they can recommend, you can ask a lawyer’s previous clients about their experience. If you can’t directly reach someone, look at an attorney’s reviews on their website. Be sure to cross-check those reviews with those listed on third-party websites like the Better Business Bureau or Yelp.
Make Sure the Attorney Is a Family Lawyer
It is important to note that not all attorneys practice family law. Some practice criminal or real estate law, which has nothing to do with family law.
When you create your list of lawyers, make sure their experience is in family law. If they don’t, they won’t be much of a help to you.
Meet With Your Potential Lawyers
Meeting a family lawyer in person will provide you with more insight than receiving a follow-up email or a phone call from their law firm. Most reputable attorneys offer free consultations, giving you a better idea of how the law firm is and how the attorney interacts with potential clients.
While you are in their office, please pay attention to how you feel in the attorney’s presence and around their staff. Your attorney should make you feel comfortable and safe, especially in the case of family law. You want your attorney to be empathetic.
Accessibility of Your Attorney
An excellent family law attorney is attentive to their clients and their needs. If you can reach out attorney promptly and they are able to help you in a timely manner, this is an excellent lawyer to have.
You also want to work with a lawyer that tries to avoid legal jargon as much as possible. Your lawyer should be able to meet you at your level and provide you with information in a way you can understand.
The location of your attorney also matters. You want to be able to get to your attorney quickly or to have them readily accessible if you need to meet with them. Although attorneys are naturally busy, if they make it a point to reach out to you to give you a case update, they are excellent attorneys to have.
Keep an Eye Out for Warning Signs
If you at any point feel off about your legal team’s processes or you notice there are red flags in their behavior, you may want to look into a different attorney. A standard red flag you should look out for is if they have no personal connection with you. Family law is delicate; you want a sympathetic attorney who can see your side and sympathize with you.
Additional red flags:
- Pushing deadlines
- Big promises made to clients
- Unresponsive
- Distracted by phone calls or other consultations
- Poor reputation
A huge red flag you should look out for is if an attorney provides you with confidential information about previous clients. At no point should an attorney share the details of another client’s case with you. That is a significant breach of the attorney’s client/attorney confidentiality, and there is a chance they could do the same with your case.
Review Their Payment Schedule
In general, family lawyers are expensive. Most lawyers come with their own high prices, but the result you receive at the end of the experience is worth it. Some attorneys offer lower rates, but their work may not be the best, nor will they give you the time and attention you deserve.
When researching attorneys, ask them about their payment schedules upfront. All reputable attorneys are upfront about their rates, and they will be honest with you.
Most attorneys are willing to work with their clients in regards to payment, but that varies across attorneys. This may not be the same with certain attorneys.
Be sure to note base your decision on the attorney’s cost alone. Instead, focus more on their expertise and previous case results.
Get the Representation You Deserve
Family law is a complicated law that deals with family relationships and what is suitable for the parties involved. Family law attorneys have the expertise and knowledge you need to fight your side of the story and get you the justice your family deserves.
Choosing the right lawyer is detrimental, especially in family law. It could literally be the difference between winning the life your family deserves or having the family unit fall apart.
In complicated situations like this, you will want to make sure you have a knowledgeable and empathetic lawyer who can best help you. If you are ready to find a family law attorney near you, check out our website today!