6 Mistakes To Avoid When Hiring A Family Lawyer

Are you coping with a family law matter? Whether getting a divorce, adopting a kid, or fighting for child custody, these cases tend to be nerve-racking and traumatic for spouses. Consequently, most of them wish for the procedure to be completed quickly and painlessly.

Nevertheless, in the hope of ending the process in the fastest way possible, most individuals end up hiring the wrong family lawyer. Choosing an inadequate or inexperienced attorney to handle your case might be detrimental for the outcome, hence causing an even greater disappointment.

On the other hand, good family lawyers will not only look out for your best interests, but will also look for every opportunity to find common ground in a dispute with your spouse, which will save everyone involved stress, time and money. This is even more important where child custody is involved.

These are the six most common mistakes to avoid when looking for a family law attorney in order to win your court battle.

Looking for the wrong type of attorney

Many individuals looking for a family lawyer end up hiring the wrong type of attorney. Hiring a legal representative that specializes in family law doesn’t necessarily mean you have made a well-reasoned decision. The largest part of professionals in this field is proficient and experienced in a particular branch of family law, not all of them. For instance, when going through a divorce, one is supposed to hire a legal representative that specializes in this branch instead of opting for an adoption attorney. However, this is not a hard and fast rule, because many excellent family law attorneys like Jennifer Croker are all-rounders who are experts in several different aspects of family law matters.

Moreover, divorce lawyers are the right professionals to look for when coping with separation or deciding to officially end your marriage. These legal representatives take the role of negotiators in order to make a favorable settlement without even commencing a trial procedure. By employing their negotiation skills, divorce attorneys resolve matters like asset and property division, alimony, and marriage liabilities. Click here to learn more about the financial implications of marriage.

Child custody lawyers are hired after a married couple gets divorced and has to resolve the issue of custody. These specialists assist clients in developing a parenting plan, getting legal or sole custody, as well as negotiating the amount of child support.

In addition, some family law attorneys handle domestic and child abuse cases, either hired by the victim or the person accused of abuse. In the former scenario, such lawyers assist victims in filing a lawsuit or a restraining order against their spouses. Conversely, when hired by the defendant, the job of these professionals is to prove spouses not guilty of abuse.

As the name suggests, adoption lawyers are the right choice of legal representatives when planning to adopt a child. Instead of looking for an adoption agency and collecting the necessary documents for the procedure on your own, an adoption attorney will handle the entire process on your behalf.

Civil union attorneys are hired by couples about to enter into a marriage for the purpose of signing a prenuptial agreement, which specifies the property rights of future spouses in the event of divorce. Marriage lawyers also act as advisors when couples sign a postnuptial agreement that is identical to a prenup, only signed after a couple gets married. The following link, https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/what-is-a-postnuptial-agreement, explains the different types of postnuptial agreement and signs you need one.

Not analyzing your options

When searching for a family law attorney, most spouses are often hurried into finding one without doing their homework. Given the stressful and delicate nature of family matters, many individuals lack the patience to conduct detailed research on all legal representatives in their local area. Consequently, they end up relying solely on recommendations or hiring the first attorney they find online.

Nevertheless, one should never feel forced into making a rash decision, particularly a vital one. Take your time when compiling a list of candidates, checking their credentials, and scheduling interviews. Keep in mind that family law trials and proceedings might last for years, which means you have to choose a trustworthy professional, not the first person that comes along.

Not considering the experience record of candidates

Another frequent mistake when looking for a family lawyer is taking no notice of the experience record of candidates. Most individuals make the mistake of hiring inexperienced legal representatives for financial reasons, as these professionals are known to charge lower fees for their services. In contrast, attorneys with multiple years of experience under their belts are much costlier to hire.

Nevertheless, considering the complex nature of family law matters, it’s vital for spouses to look for a professional who has spent numerous years handling such cases in court. The most reputable family law attorneys are expected to have extensive courtroom experience in order to handle legal situations successfully. Therefore, make sure you include in your questions the number of cases each candidate has handled in the past when meeting them for interviews.

Trusting personal recommendations

Although personal referrals might point you in the right direction, one isn’t supposed to trust them blindly. Your divorce case might have certain similarities with that of your friend, but it can never be identical. Hence, hoping for the same results is only likely to bring disappointment and stress at the end of the procedure.

Furthermore, one is advised to take referrals with a grain of salt until meeting the recommended lawyers for a consultation. Remember that over-the-phone consultations aren’t as beneficial as in-person interviews when it comes to assessing the professionalism of candidates.

Not understanding the fees

One of the costliest mistakes individuals make when hiring a family lawyer is not understanding the fee agreement. In order not to be surprised by the overall cost, clients must be able to fully understand both the retainer fee and the compensation arrangement. Therefore, it’s essential for you to make a difference between an hourly and a flat fee.

Moreover, the hourly rate of lawyers is determined by a myriad of factors, such as the reputation and record of experience of the professional, the complications related to the case, as well as the exposure to liability. Apart from negotiating the hourly rate, you are also supposed to inquire about the minimum billing time, as some lawyers charge clients for minor services like sending emails, making phone calls, etc.

The flat fee, on the other hand, refers to a fixed sum of money charged for the entire legal representation. However, this type of fee is charged less frequently, mostly for routine cases and legal services. Go to this page for some useful tips about negotiating attorney fees.

Hiring an unavailable attorney

Another common mistake spouses make is not discussing availability in the course of the interviews with candidates. It’s paramount to find a legal representative that would commit to your case as much as possible in order not to impede the process. There is no point in hiring a lawyer who takes ages to respond to your phone calls and emails.

Since family law matters require constant legal support throughout the process, these attorneys are expected to be always available for their clients. Make sure you tackle the time commitment factor when meeting the candidates in person so as to assess their attitude. If possible, find a professional that is capable of devoting to your case entirely, not partially.

Final word

Don’t allow time and stress to affect your decision. Take your time when researching and interviewing candidates.

Only by hiring the right legal representative, you may hope to win the case!