Choosing a Lawyer

Choosing a Divorce Lawyer or a Family Lawyer in large urban areas can be very challenging due to the large amount of divorce lawyers and family lawyers practicing in these areas.

Experienced divorce lawyers and family lawyers can help you through a very stressful time in your life and also help you avoid costly financial and emotional mistakes. Very difficult and life altering decisions must be made, affecting many personal and important issues, such as child custody, child access or visitation, joint custody, child support, spousal support, property division, equalization of net family properties, the matrimonial home, separation agreements, among many others. Choosing the right attorney can be vital to obtaining the best results in your divorce.

You and your children’s rights and wellbeing, may be affected for many years in the future. Divorce and family laws are full of many legal technicalities and are frequently subject to legal interpretation and your divorce lawyer or family lawyer must be experienced in these areas. Issues of child custody and child support can profoundly affect your children’s ongoing development.

If you or your spouse is considering divorce proceedings, it is essential that you consult a divorce and family lawyer to find out your rights and obligation. Do not sign anything or take any action that can affect you or your children’s rights, without getting proper legal advice from a qualified attorney.

Hiring the right divorce and family lawyer requires more work than simply looking through your local yellow pages or the internet. You can start your search for a divorce and family lawyer by talking to friends and family and asking for referrals. Contact your real estate or business lawyer for a referral to a family and divorce lawyer. There are many other ways to find a lawyer for your family law needs. Google their name and read any articles they may have written. Check with the State Bar for any disciplinary actions. The most important advice is to call for an appointment and ask questions. It is important that you are comfortable with your legal representation. This is the person that will be speaking for you in the courtroom, and throughout your case. Good communication between you and your lawyer is the key to understanding your legal needs and the laws that govern.

When you meet with a family and divorce lawyer, ask specific questions and prepare those questions in advance – how is child custody, child access or visitation decided, what is joint custody or shared custody, how much will you receive or will you have to pay for child support and for how long, how does spousal support work, how will your property be divided and what is included, what happens to your home, who pays for your debts and loans, how much will it cost, what steps are involved in the process, how long will it take, can you settle or do you have to go to court, what is a Separation Agreement.

Ask what the lawyer’s philosophy is about negotiating a settlement or litigating (going to court should be the last resort).

The family and divorce lawyer should be explaining all this and much more to you at your first meeting. Make sure the lawyer you choose, is answering your questions and makes you feel that you and your case is important, and not just another number. Your lawyer should not talk to you in legalize but in plain ordinary language so that you understand exactly what is going on and what will happen in the future. You must choose a lawyer who you feel comfortable with and with whom you can trust to reveal your personal and confidential information and someone who will not make you feel foolish or uncomfortable for asking questions about things you do not understand.

Your divorce and family lawyer should be compassionate and understanding due to the emotional issues involved. Many divorce and family lawyers get lost in the routine and forget how to empathize and understand exactly what you are going through. So if you’re not feeling it, it is okay to say “no thank you,” and continue your search.

If you are looking for an affordable and experienced family law attorney / lawyer for your family needs, we are well-prepared to help you. Call us at 972-682-7711, or email attorney@billinghamlaw.com to schedule an appointment with the attorney.