When Is It Time to Hire a Family Court Lawyer?

There are many reasons to hire a family court lawyer. In order to best determine this, read all the important factors you need to know first and foremost.

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Introduction

All families have arguments and disagreements. Many can move on and settle disputes with time. Others find situations continue to escalate and require outside assistance, whether voluntarily or involuntarily. If a family matter becomes too much to handle, sometimes a formal court process can help bring closure.

When family matters end up in family court, things can get a bit scary. No longer is it an argument between you and your spouse or you and your sister. It is an argument that is going in front of a judge for an official ruling on your life.

To help ease this unease, consulting with an attorney will allow you to gain a better understanding of what to expect. Though, truly, it is better to hire a family court attorney so that you know your rights are going to be as protected as possible.

When is it time to get a family court lawyer involved?

What Actions Take Place in Family Court?

The Family Law Division in California handles a wide variety of cases that deal with familial issues. These can include things such as:

• Dissolution of marriage (divorce)
• Domestic partnership
• Legal separations
• Nullability
• Paternity/parentage
• Child custody and visitation
• Spousal support and child support
• Domestic violence
• Elder abuse

These issues need to be in front of a judge to ensure that everyone is on the same page – that the support that is ordered gets paid and that protection from harm gets put in place for safety reasons, and so on. In other words, the court makes a case and keeps track of the actions so that there is no confusion about who is supposed to be doing what.

How You Can Benefit From a Family Court Lawyer?

Whenever something is going on within your family and your life – or the lives of your loved ones – is at stake,  it is time to take things seriously. In a child custody case, for example, you want to make sure that you get what you are seeking when it comes to custody or at least a fair custody arrangement. In divorce cases, obtaining spousal support or a fair asset split may require some expert skills.

Without an attorney, you can find yourself facing a potentially life-changing situation – and have no one fighting for you throughout it.

What a Family Court Lawyer Does

If you find yourself in this situation, then it is important you take steps to secure one. Not only will they give you a heads up of what you can expect in court, but they can also take the necessary steps to see that you reach the most desirable outcome.

A family court lawyer…

• Helps negotiate settlements or resolve disputes
• Resolves complex claims
• Drafts pleadings and various court documents
• Acts as liaison between professionals such as social workers, psychologists, police officers, etc.
• Researches cases to determine precedent
• Examines your case, evaluates evidence
• Acts empathetic and compassionate while maintaining control in unstable situations

And that’s just the beginning. Too much to handle unrepresented.

Tips for Hiring a Family Court Lawyer 

Because you want to make sure you hire the right family court attorney, here are a few tips for you.

1. Meet multiple attorneys before you hire one. Have a consultation with a few attorneys. Explain your case, hear their feedback, and see if it aligns with what you are seeking. You can ask friends, co-workers, or other trusted individuals to help you find attorneys to reach out to.
2. Look for an experienced attorney. You don’t need an attorney who is on the brink of retirement, but you want to make sure that the person you hire has experience in cases similar to yours – and trial experience, too, in case it gets to that.
3. Stick with a family court lawyer. There are many civil attorneys and the like who dabble in a little of everything. They may even offer you a great rate for letting them get the experience in family court. This is not at all what you are looking for. Find a family court lawyer who has the experience.

4. Hire someone that you can communicate with. You need to know that the attorney you hire is going to communicate with you. It may seem silly, but it happens all the time. Communication is everything in a court case – so if the attorney sighs when you ask your 6th question of the day, it may not be a good fit. 

5. Make sure you will be a good team. You want an attorney that you feel comfortable with. Someone who you don’t feel is judging your situation and will actually fight for your rights. For many people, it is that gut feeling you have when you first meet in the consultation. If it feels right, go for it. If it doesn’t – keep looking.

So, When Is it Time to Hire a Family Court Lawyer?

The answer is easy – as soon as you find yourself dealing with a family court case, it is time to hire a lawyer. Whether you are dealing with a divorce, child custody case, domestic violence, or something else – even the most amicable situations can turn negative when things begin to get hashed out in court. So even if you feel like you don’t need an attorney, hire one anyway.

You don’t want to wait until things get crazy before reaching out to an attorney. At the beginning of every case, there are actions that need to be taken. Discovery questions to be answered, mediation and negotiations, and so forth. These are things that you’d find beneficial to have an attorney. Without the right direction from the get-go, you may find all of the actions you take while unrepresented, may not be able to be undone.

Therefore, to make sure that you are protected in whatever battle you are fighting in family court, arm yourself with a family court attorney. You will be glad that you did.