The Best Family Law Attorney in Los Angeles

The idea of finding an attorney while experiencing a divorce, child custody battle, or any other family legal matter can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do in your search and find the right attorney. Here’s how to find the best family law attorney in Los Angeles.

The Best Family Law Attorney in Los Angeles

Family law cases can be incredibly emotional and challenging even under the best of circumstances. In tumultuous situations where the people involved don’t agree or even harbor intensely negative feelings about each other, the prospect of finding a reasonable solution that works for everyone can feel insurmountable.

When it comes to legal matters that affect your family life, you want the best legal guidance possible to ensure your interests are protected and represented. However, the idea of finding the best legal advice and service for your needs during such an emotional experience can be frustrating and overwhelming if you’re not sure where to start your search. In this article, we’re going to explore a few things you can do to narrow your search and find the best family law attorney in Los Angeles for your needs.

Finding Family Law Attorneys in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has both a high concentration of people and a high concentration of expert lawyers across nearly every area of law. Finding a family law attorney is as easy as checking one or more of these publicly-available sources:

• The California Bar maintains a database of attorneys serving the public across every area of law. If you know the name of a lawyer or want to verify that someone offering you legal services is licensed to practice law, you can enter the information on this page to see the individual’s record. You can also contact the Bar directly for help finding lawyers.
• The SFVBA Attorney Referral Service can help cross-match your needs to a reliable database of proven attorneys who specialize in family law. Note that all legal reference providers are licensed in the state of California, and must adhere to extremely strict guidelines around ethics – they cannot just refer you to someone to make a bit of cash. You can generally trust the advice they provide, and the references offered, for this reason.
• Friends and Family Referrals can be an excellent way to find out which family attorneys have a good track record of helping people. If someone you love or know has had an experience with a lawyer local to you, ask them to share their feelings about the experience. Friends who have recently sorted out custody and/or who have recently divorced are an excellent place to start. This is an especially useful method if you have specific needs most attorneys might not cover, such as strict religious beliefs and/or lifestyle concerns.
• Your Accountant or Tax Person is also highly likely to have family attorneys within their network. Many of these professionals aid family lawyers in breaking down assets and calculating fair payments during divorce and child support cases. The law requires them to refer you only to people they truly believe will be beneficial to you, making this a great trusted source of info.
• Television and Internet Advertising can also help you locate big-name lawyers in your local area. However, this method can be relatively unreliable, and you should carefully vet anyone you contact using this method. Asking for a legal license number, physical address, or proof of past results is an excellent way to ensure a lawyer you find online really is who they say they are.

Narrowing Down Your Choices

Prepare a list of the lawyers you find and keep it handy. It’s now time to start reviewing your list for suitability so you can narrow down your choices. And yes, in case you were wondering, that does mean that not every lawyer will be right for your case or situation; that’s okay. Your job is to learn how to identify the right person!

First, visit the website and/or social media profiles for each of the lawyers. Look carefully at the information they share, the reviews people leave, and the way they conduct themselves in the public space. Do they seem helpful? Are they short with clients or downright rude? These key indicators may help you to eliminate, or shortlist, family attorneys with particular traits.

Next, research or telephone their office to learn more about their fee structure and how much they charge, if anything, for an initial consultation. Remember that no matter how good the attorney is, there’s no point in consulting with them if you cannot afford their rates!

Ask These Critical Questions

Once you have a shortlist of suitable family law attorneys, you should schedule consultations with at least a few of your favorites. While law is a science, there is plenty of grey area in family law specifically. The advice you receive from one attorney may be better entirely than the advice you receive from another. By seeing a few people briefly, you can better ascertain final suitability.

So, what should you ask?

• How much experience do you have? This should include education, time in court, and cases handled within the family law sphere. If you have special circumstances involving abuse, child support, or domestic violence, be sure to ask if the person has experience handling these special needs, too.
• How much do you charge to handle _____? Fill in the blank with whatever service you need – a divorce, a separation, a change in custody, a restraining order, or something else entirely. If you can’t afford the rate, or if you are low-income, ask whether they offer sliding scale services.
• Can you provide references? All upstanding attorneys have the ability to provide references from past clients and/or organizations they work with. A lawyer who cannot, or will not, provide references, is questionable. Consider this a red flag, especially if you have trouble locating information about them. Unfortunately, legal scams do exist, even in LA.
• Who will handle my case? This question might seem strange, but it’s actually really important, especially when dealing with law firms or groups. While you may see the top lawyer in the firm, that doesn’t necessarily mean the same lawyer will handle the day-to-day case management tasks associated with your situation. Find out who will have the main responsibility for ensuring your results and who else you’ll work with during your relationship.

Additional Tips for Success

Research and patience are your two most important tools in learning how to find the best family law attorneys in Los Angeles. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, probe for answers, or refuse a lawyer’s offer if you aren’t satisfied. More importantly, if you feel confused or unsure about an offer, know that you can always contact the California Bar for clarification – you have that right.

If you don’t want the hassle of searching and interviewing at all, opt for a legal referral service instead. It’s quick and easy to find your best match with the right help.