A Happy Family

Choosing A Family Law Attorney

>> Jun 13, 2016

While choosing a family law attorney, you need to be sure that they represent your lawsuit well in court and you also feel comfortable with them. Here are a few factors mentioned below, which you can consider while choosing an attorney.

Assess your requirements

Many attorneys are reputed for being intense litigators, and there are others, who can reach the settlement quite early without much heartburn. And, many others are there who can take a middle route and get the settlement done. Assess your needs, whether you want a litigator, mediator, or collaborator.

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Meet a few attorneys

Do not get under the pressure of divorce and hire the first lawyer you meet. Make an arrangement of meeting a few attorneys before you decide upon one. You can look up for law firms and individual lawyers online, ask your friends and family, refer yellow pages, etc. and shortlist a few attorneys you like.

Beware of misguidance

If a lawyer seems to misguide you at some point in the initial consultation, it is better that you do not believe their promises. Many such promises turn out to be bogus later. You must listen to your instinct and hire a family law attorney who is knowledgeable, professional, responsive, makes you comfortable, and communicates with you easily.

Prepare a list of questions

You must prepare a list of questions that you can ask your prospective attorney so that you can make up your mind whether you want to hire them or not. There are some factors on priority that should be the focus of your questions. You have to be courageous to enquire the attorney thoughtfully and deliberately. Although the period just before divorce is very difficult for anyone, you have to maintain your composure to handle the situation tactfully. You can refer the following questions for starters:

Does this lawyer limit their practice to divorce or family law, and matters related to it? Is he/she a specialist of family law?
What is the experience of this lawyer in handling similar cases as mine?
Are there any adequate resources available with this attorney to make sure that I get personal service and expert legal advice? (Some of basic resources include modern technology, support staff, instant approach to other lawyers of family law, etc.)
How is the way of speaking of the attorney? Is it courteous, intelligent, professional, etc. It is not necessary that the lawyer who uses judicial vocabulary in front of you is a great lawyer. In fact, he may be trapping you to hire him.
Does the lawyer answer my queries in words that are easily comprehensible?
Does the lawyer actually understand what I am saying?
Does the lawyer tell you the advantages and disadvantages of the options I am seeking?
Is the lawyer willing, able, experienced, and ready to go to the hearings of court if you are not able to come?
Does the lawyer make sure that after the case has begun, it keeps moving to reach a conclusion?
Do I feel comfortable with the lawyer?

How To Find The Right Divorce Lawyer

Marriage is billed to be one of the highlights in life and traditionally, it lasted until death. However, in our modern world this is much less often the case. As the marriage is legally binding, getting divorced often involves the expertise of a legal professional. This can seem like a minefield, particularly at a time when you are likely to be stressed and having to deal with multiple issues concurrently. Here are some suggestions as to how to find the right divorce lawyer out there for you.

In our modern world there are many options available for finding a divorce lawyer. There are many online ‘do it yourself’ kits available where you can download the relevant forms and instruction guides. Some companies that offer these also have a phone line where you can speak to a customer adviser. Whilst not a divorce lawyer in person, these sites can be good for those individuals who feel capable enough to take on the paperwork themselves.

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Getting divorced can be an expensive business and costs can rise dramatically. A good divorce lawyer will ensure they communicate all costs up front before you have to pay anything. In addition they will always ensure you are fully aware of what you are paying for. Many lawyers often ask for payment in stages as you go along, thus avoiding one huge outlay at the beginning.

As with any tradesperson or business, recommendations can go along way and divorce lawyers are no different. Ask around and see if there is anyone who can discuss their experiences of getting divorced. This can be critical to finding the right lawyer for you; a personal recommendation means much more than internet reviews from strangers. This can help to put your mind at ease as you know you will be treated fairly and you can trust the lawyer.

Before signing any paperwork or paying any money to hire a divorce lawyer, you should ask for an introductory meeting where you can meet them and explain your situation. You can often ask for this to be free and many good lawyers will happily agree to this. By doing this you can get a feel for them and their way of working, as well as how interested they are in your case. Lawyers are busy people and you don’t want your case to be sat at the bottom of a pile of files.

Find a lawyer who is understanding and empathetic, but most importantly, who listens to you. After all, you are the client and should be instructing them.

Look for someone who has the relevant and necessary professional qualifications. You would be entitled to ask for proof of their membership of the governing body, or copies of their qualifications. You need to be sure you are instructing a suitably qualified instructor to handle your affairs; after all, they could be making arrangements that affect your home, children and income for years to come. Again, a good lawyer will happily agree to this and will want to ensure you feel at ease and reassured.

So What is Divorce Meditation?

Divorce can be a difficult time for anyone involved, and particularly so when there is a house, children and other aspects of your life together to consider. Whilst emotions can be running high and the situation can be stressful, mediation can be of use to many couples. Mediation essentially attempts to work with the couple to try and find a resolution and agreements that both parties are happy with.

A couple may decide to use divorce mediation when they are unable to come to arrangements between themselves or they are unable to communicate clearly due to high levels of emotion. A mediator is a neutral third party that helps to be the ‘go between’ in the divorce. Often, mediators will focus on issues such as finances, property and childcare; the issues that need resolving quickly and that can be the most contentious. The mediator will help the couple of come to an agreement on each of the issues that both parties are happy with. This can come easily for some couples, but others may struggle. This is where the skilled mediator becomes invaluable. They can work with both individuals and help them to come to an understanding. Often, when there are children involved, it is in their interest to have arrangements made as soon as it is practically possible. A mediator can help this happen relatively quickly as it can avoid the unhelpful criticisms and emotional conversations that the separating couple can easily become embroiled in.

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The mediator in any divorce will always remain completely neutral and impartial. They do not have an opinion over who should get the house or who makes the better parent. They are simply there to help both individuals come to different arrangements on the issues. The mediator can help bring the couple together and help to negotiate between the couple. However, they do not advise either party in the couple, rather they adopt a more facilitative role.

Mediation is often voluntary, although court proceedings may recommend mediation as a first step to resolving the issues when a couple separates. In certain countries there are exclusion criteria, such as domestic violence in the UK. This means in these cases there is no need to go through the mediation process before moving onto the court process. Therefore, mediation can have varying levels of success. If both parties are committed to working out the issues and coming to an agreement then it is often successful. Mediation can continue for an unspecified amount of time as there is no way of knowing how long it will take some couples to come to suitable arrangements.

Mediation can help to reduce costs when separating and can avoid the need for an upsetting and lengthy court process. It can also help the partners to feel in control and come to arrangements themselves, rather than a judge deciding for them. This is often preferable for many couples, particularly when it comes to children. Often, parents are able to find the answers themselves with the support of a trained mediator.