You didn’t expect to find yourself in this situation a few years ago. No one plans on hiring a family lawyer in the future. Now that you’re faced with your current situation, you must hire a family lawyer, and you must hire one soon.
Finding the right lawyer for any type of situation is a process, but when it comes to finding the right one to handle your family court cases, you have to take even greater care. Do you know what to look for in a family lawyer? What does a family law attorney do? Will they be able to tackle all of the hurdles sure to come your way and ensure a fair outcome?
Continue reading below to learn how to find a family lawyer that’s the right fit for your needs!
Ask Friends for Recommendations
Where do you begin your search? The first step you’ll want to take is to ask friends for recommendations. If you know friends, co-workers, or family members who’ve gone through a similar situation as yours, then you should ask them about the family lawyer they hired.
What was their experience like with this lawyer? You can then decide if that same lawyer would be a good fit for you. You should also ask the attorney for referrals.
Call each referral and ask them a few questions as well. You’ll want to do your own online search also. Search for family law attorneys in your area and read the reviews.
Research Potential Lawyers
Once you have a few potential lawyers for hire written down, you can then begin to research each individual lawyer. Be sure to visit their website. What does the website explain to the lawyer?
You can find what each lawyer specializes in, what qualifications they have, how long they’ve been in family law for, and so on. This is also the best way to attain contact information. Don’t forget to check out their social media pages either.
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms are a good place to learn more about lawyers and their business. What’s posted on social media can say a lot about a person. You might learn if a lawyer is the right person for your case based on their social media posts.
You can also try searching for local news. Press releases and news stories can give you some insight into the lawyer’s past cases.
Meet With More Than One
Some family law attorneys will sit down with you for a free consultation. Others will offer the first consultation at a reduced price. Either option is common for lawyers, and you shouldn’t judge the practice on whether you have to pay or not for the initial consultation.
What you should do, however, is meet with more than one lawyer. Narrow down your list of prospects first, then meet with them in consultations. Narrow down your list of possible lawyers to hire even more after meeting up with them in person.
When you schedule your consultations, make sure to have a list of questions you want to ask. This is the best way to ensure you don’t forget to ask something.
Have a List of Questions to Ask
If you’ve never had to hire a family lawyer before, then you might not be sure what questions to ask. First, think about a few questions that you do know you want to ask. Then, write them down.
Next, consider asking these questions listed below.
1. How Much Experience Do You Have?
Be sure to ask the lawyer how much experience they have working in law. How long have they been practicing family law? These are two separate questions, and it’s essential you know the answer to each.
For example, these attorneys handle several different types of cases, and family law is one of them. The lawyer you hire should have a good amount of experience handling family law cases. You can also ask them what qualifications they have as well.
2. Have You Dealt With Cases Similar to Mine?
Just because a lawyer has a certain amount of years experience doesn’t mean they’ve dealt with cases similar to yours. Each family law case is different in its own way. There might be specific circumstances surrounding your case that differ from all other cases.
You want to hire someone who’s dealt with these same circumstances before.
3. What Payment Options Do You Offer?
Not all lawyers charge the same rate or offer the same type of payment options. Be sure to ask them what payment options they offer. How will you be charged throughout the process?
What fees or hidden costs are there? You don’t want to get hit with any surprises down the road so be sure you know exactly how much you’ll be charged for their services and how they expect you to pay them.
Hire Someone Who Listens to You
At the very least, you want to hire someone who listens to you. This is a lawyer quality you’ll be able to pick up on during the consultations. When you’re speaking, do they appear to be listening to everything you’re saying?
Do they interrupt you or fail to answer all of your questions or concerns? If there’s a question they can’t answer, will they take the time to find the answer for you and get back to you?
The lawyer you choose should make you feel heard and comfortable.
Have You Chosen Your Family Lawyer?
Have you chosen your family lawyer yet? Use the information given in this guide above to determine which family law attorney is the best fit for you.
For other informative posts on legal topics and more, be sure to check back here on a regular basis!
