One of the most important steps in a child custody case is your interview with the Lake City child custody attorney.
Once you have gathered the names of several family lawyers, you will have to shortlist them and then hire one. Every lawyer has a different psychological make-up and approach, and so it becomes important for you to meet up with the short-listed lawyers and interview them before settling for one, and here is how you should go about the interview process:
1. Normally, a Lake City child custody attorney will agree for an interview, unless they represent a large and reputed firm. They may charge you a small fee – $25 to $50 – which is a small price to pay to know if the lawyer is right for you. Some child custody lawyers may not charge anything for the interview.
2. You must make it a point to diligently interview about 3-4 lawyers, because your and your family’s future depends on the outcome of the case.
3. The first thing you must ask the lawyer is about his background, knowledge, experience and proficiency. Ask him about his success stories, how long he has been practicing, what’s been his toughest case till date and how he tackled it, and which association he is affiliated to. When you check on the experience, make sure to find out how much experience he has in solving cases similar to yours.
4. Find out the lawyer’s style of working, things such as: Is he overly aggressive? Does he have so many cases that he can’t handle them? Will he give equal time to your case like he does to the others? Will he assign your case to juniors? Who will answer your phone calls? And whether you will get duplicate copies of all the relevant correspondence.
5. If you are okay with the Lake City child custody attorney’s replies, you then have to ask him specific questions related to the case – ask him what he thinks of your case, how long will it take to reach a satisfactory conclusion, what are your chances of winning the child custody case (this will be an opinion – no lawyer can ever guarantee a win), what kind of judgments have been there on trials that are similar to yours, how will evaluations be handled (when child custody is disputed), and whether mediation will be required. Feel free to ask him any question that’s bugging you.
6. Ask the Lake City lawyer what he expects you to do, what decisions does he expect you to make, and what will be the consequence if at all you have a problem with him during the case.
7. Enquire about his or her fees – ask if he charges by the hour and, if yes, then what is his rate; then ask him or her about the other expenses too, which include paralegal work, filing fees, calls, letters, etc. Ask him how much he has charged in similar cases in the past and what his retainer will be. If he takes a retainer, then ask him what happens to it if it is not used. Round off the questions on the fees by asking him if you can pay in installments.
Many people quickly freeze on a family lawyer if they are satisfied with the interview. That is a mistake, because you must never hire the first lawyer you meet. Along with that, here are some other mistakes you shouldn’t make when it comes to hiring a good family lawyer:
i) Hire a family lawyer simply because he comes cheap.
ii) Hire a family lawyer who practices family law part-time.
iii) Hire a family lawyer only at the last minute, when they need help in a settlement.
iv) Hire a family lawyer who is known to, or is representing, their ex.
These interviews with your Lake City child custody attorney are very important and you must make sure they are the right match for you.
By: Brent Delaurentis
Family law is an area that involves family relationships and issues. It can encompass anything from adoption finalization to divorce proceedings. No matter what type of family matters need to be decided, an attorney who specializes in this area of law will make the process a little easier.
An Irvine family law attorney should be well versed in all areas of California family law. Major life changes often take place as a result of the decisions made in these cases, and an experienced, compassionate staff can help clients survive the emotionally taxing process and win the case. It is important to choose a lawyer and firm that will handle each client on an individual basis, taking the time to get to know the client and family and understand the extenuating circumstances of each unique case.
An Irvine family law attorney will be experienced in the various aspects of family law. The most common cases handled in this area are divorce settlements, where a competent attorney is essential to protect the rights of the client and ensure the settlement is fair and reasonable. Divorce is one of the most stressful events a person may ever experience, but the right lawyer can make that difficult time a little easier to handle.
Child custody is often an element of divorce proceedings and can be very emotional and stressful for all parties involved, including the children. It may be difficult to determine where the children should be raised – and who should raise them – when parents split up. When the parents cannot agree on this issue, it is up to the court to decide where the children should live. This is usually done in the “best interest of the child”, although this can be difficult to determine. An experienced Irvine family law attorney can help ensure that a child custody case goes as smoothly as possible and that the rights of his client are firmly protected during the process.
Once child custody is determined, child visitation must also be addressed. This agreement will allow the non-custodial parent a prescribed amount of time with the children so that relationships are preserved in the family unit. The standard visitation order will allow the non-custodial parent to have the children one night a week and every other weekend. It also splits time during holidays and school vacations. If changes need to be made to this standard visitation order, an Irvine family law attorney can make sure those changes are done correctly and with the best interest of his client in mind.
Other areas that an Irvine family law attorney may handle include adoption proceedings, paternity cases, prenuptial agreements and restraining orders. Domestic violence is another stressful situation that may call for the services of a lawyer specializing in the area of family law. When searching for an attorney for any of these cases, it is important to look for a firm that specializes in this area of law to ensure the case is handled in the most professional way. The right attorney will make all the difference in dealing with these difficult situations compassionately and competently.
By: Justin DiMateo
