If it is time for you to retain legal representation for a family law issue, you need to take the time to find the right lawyer to handle the case. Because there is a large number of family law-related matters, including relocation, parenting plan modifications, spousal support, child support, child custody and divorce, it is imperative that you find an attorney who has the experience necessary to handle your situation.
Due to this, it is a good idea to ask any family lawyer you are considering using the following questions before you retain their services.
This is an extremely important question to ask. You want to make sure the divorce attorney you choose as proper knowledge and experience with family law to streamline your case. An attorney who doesn’t have much experience with family law, or whose practice is not solely focused on this may not fully understand the intricacies involved with the case like a seasoned attorney would.
When this question is posed to some family lawyers, they will automatically reply with a large (somewhat impressive) number. While this may seem great, you need to ask the lawyer how many cases like yours the attorney has taken on. While a lawyer may have worked on over 70 divorce cases in the past, they may have only taken on a few cases that involved child custody or support issues. Make sure you also know how many similar cases they have taken to trial – especially in situations where the other party is going to be adversarial.
Make sure you know how long you should expect to wait to hear back from your attorney. For the majority of situations, the best option is to have an attorney who can return calls or emails within a period of 24-hours. However, regardless of how long it takes, make sure you understand the lawyer’s policies before your case begins. Also, ask the attorney what their preferred method of communication is. Quality attorneys are going to provide personalized attention, all while streamlining communication to help reduce costs for you.
Several family lawyers are going to have a team working on more complex cases including paralegals, support associates, etc. This can be beneficial in the long run. However, make sure to ask about this ahead of time and find out about the other party’s experience in handling cases similar to yours.
Going through a divorce is often a difficult and emotional time for everyone involved. Having the right lawyer on your team can help make the process a bit easier. If you are thinking about filing for divorce or have questions about the process, contact the attorneys at the Estevez-Pazos Law Firm, P.A. by calling 305-717-7130.
