Patricia
There were 2.6 million custodial fathers taking care of 4 million American children in 2018. This may sound like a large number, but there are fewer custodial than non-custodial fathers in the United States. Working with an attorney can provide much-needed guidance and representation if you are a parent facing a child custody case.
Fight for your parental rights by following these tips and hiring the best child custody attorney.
Specialty
Not all child custody cases are the same. Hire an attorney who has experience handling your type of case. Ask a potential lawyer how many cases they have handled that are similar to yours.
Ask them the outcome of those cases, too. Keep in mind that there is no guarantee of the outcome of your case. However, wouldn’t you like to hire a lawyer who is successful more often than not?
Additionally, you don’t want to hire a general attorney who handles a wide range of cases. While they could represent you, they will lack the intricate knowledge that someone who specializes in child custody cases has.
Location
Your lawyer needs to know the local laws and is licensed to work in your state. Searching online for “a child custody attorney near me” can help you begin the search. Hiring a lawyer who regularly practices in your custody case’s jurisdiction means they know how the local court operates and who the judges are.
Consultation
Always meet with an attorney before you hire them to represent you in your child custody settlement. Most lawyers offer free consultations where you can meet them in person to discuss your case. Look for someone who can communicate clearly and explain how they intend to represent you. You should feel comfortable, confident, and heard.
Approach
Not all child custody cases need to be contentious. If you and your ex are amicable, then you want an attorney who understands this relationship. Similarly, if the separation was complicated and required aggressive representation, then you should hire an attorney who is ready for a similarly styled custody settlement.
Reputation
Ask around and find out who people you know have used. These are people you know and trust, so getting their opinion can be helpful. You can also look online for client reviews.
However, online reviews can be tricky. A firm with hundreds of all perfect five-star reviews may be buying reviews, as no business is that perfect. A firm with mainly positive reviews and a couple of negative ones is more realistic.
People are more likely to leave a negative review than a positive one. Additionally, people tend to leave negative reviews when their case outcome isn’t what they hoped. This outcome isn’t always a reflection of the lawyer’s representation or skills.
Hire a Child Custody Attorney
Hiring a child custody attorney means you don’t have to face your custody case alone. With an experienced legal team, you can fight for your parental rights. Look for a lawyer who has the right specialty experience, reputation, and is local.
Check out our other business articles for more helpful advice on other legal matters.
