The word “family” doesn’t usually bring to mind the thought of going to court, but the truth is that even the most committed families can find themselves in need of a lawyer to navigate personal family changes that have legal ramifications. There are always questions about what life will look like after a difficult family transition, and having a lawyer sometimes helps to make that clearer.
If you’re wondering if you need to hire a family lawyer and what that would look like, read on.
What does a family lawyer do?
Family lawyers can handle legal issues involving changes in the family dynamic, such as divorce and child custody, as well as disputes over property and more. They deal with issues surrounding:
- Civil unions and domestic partnerships
- Prenuptial agreements
- Divorce
- Separation
- Property settlements
- Alimony
- Child custody
For instance, while not every couple who decides to divorce ultimately needs a lawyer, it’s smart to consult one about the particulars of your situation. Even if you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse get along and are amicable, divorce laws and rulings can be complex, and attorneys are the professionals in handling the changing landscape of family law. A lawyer can explain everything to you, answer any questions, and work with your ex-spouse’s legal representation to help facilitate a smooth process.
Sometimes couples seek legal counseling before initiating a divorce to understand the logistical and financial ramifications of ending their marriage. What will happen to the house? Who can get custody of children? What about joint-owned property like furniture? What happens to savings accounts, retirement savings and health care insurance? Family lawyers can walk couples through their concerns and discuss all the possibilities, including:
- seeking spousal support
- restitution
- compensation for kid’s medical bills and education expenses
- child support for the parent awarded custody
- joint custody and visitation arrangements
While every family attorney may not have experience in all these areas, if you are dealing with stressful situations related to any of them, it might be time to consider finding and hiring legal representation. They can help you sort through your circumstances and ensure that you and your family are protected. A family law attorney will ultimate serve as a guide for the family law court process and make themselves available to answer any questions that that come up about the process. They make it much easier for everyone involved.
What’s it like working with a family attorney?
As you can see, the practice of family law is broad and covers a lot of ground, so it’s hard to say exactly what you could expect in your particular case. But by and large, working with a family attorney should help you find peace of mind and stability regarding your family issues. Our lawyers in particular understand that every situation is unique and always listen, taking into account the specific circumstances of your family and your needs.
At the onset of working with a family attorney, your lawyer will discuss the particulars of your case and advise you on not just the steps to proceeding but potential outcomes based on your circumstances and requests. If you hire them for their services, they should take you through the filing of all necessary paperwork as well as help you create and review any legally binding documents, ensuring that you understand all the terms and negotiations. If the case goes to court, your attorney will join you and represent you during the case. This is a particularly important point because no matter what the case, representing yourself in court can be extremely difficult and stressful, especially when it involves the well-being of your family. While there is no guarantee of an outcome, having a family lawyer can give you the best chances for winning your case and can help you feel more comfortable and confident.
How to hire a family lawyer
If you decide to move forward with hiring a family lawyer to help you with your case, you should start by calling reputable attorneys in your area for a consultation. That gives you an opportunity to ask questions about their background, experience and success representing family law cases. You can also get to know them better and learn whether you’d be comfortable working with them and building a relationship of representation.
Going through a divorce, dividing up property, dealing with financial ramifications, and working out child custody arrangements are all stressful, but you don’t have to go it alone. Our family law expertise means we’ll listen to your story and work with you to help you get the best possible outcome, as well as answer your questions about the process. Make sure you get the future for your family that you deserve. Our consultations are complimentary, so call us today to start an important conversation about what’s to come.
