For many people, divorce or separation of any kind can be an extremely stressful time in their lives, especially if they’re dealing with child custody issues.
Unfortunately, emotions tend to get in the way of clear thinking when you’re going through these difficult and life-changing times, which makes it all the more important to have an objective third party guide you through this situation – someone like a family law attorney.
A free consultation with a family lawyer can give you some peace of mind, helping you figure out what your options are and how to best proceed in your case.
Here’s what you can expect from a free consultation with a family lawyer.
- Get a Clear Understanding of Your Legal Options
When you meet with a family law attorney for the first time, it’s important to be clear about what your legal options are and how they’ll impact your life.
A consultation provides time for the lawyer to ask questions, explain their reasoning, and get an understanding of the goals of their client. It also helps make sure that both parties feel comfortable continuing the process together.
One important step in any family law case is deciding on which type of arrangement is most suitable. A consultation may help with this as well by talking through different options such as voluntary separation or legal separation and discussing the pros and cons of each one in order to make an informed decision on what you want out of the future.
- Get Your Questions Answered
A free consultation allows you to ask the lawyer any questions you may have. They will let you know what their qualifications are, what they specialize in, how they charge, and anything else that is important to your case.
If there is one particular area of law that you need help with, then it’s worth going into more detail and asking more specific questions so that they can be of help.
It’s also good to let them know how much information or how many details you want them to provide at this point, as some people want a lot of detail while others just want the basics.
As well as getting your questions answered, the lawyer should let you know if it would be wise for them to represent you in court or if another professional might be better suited for your situation.
- Establish the Level of Service You Can Expect
At the beginning of your consultation, you’ll be greeted by a well-trained team member who will complete the first step of gathering basic information about your family law and legal situation.
This includes some or all of the following:
- Understanding your current family status
- Determining what kind of custody arrangement would best suit your family’s needs
- Navigating questions around child support
- Explaining the difference between mediation and litigation
- Identifying any financial concerns
This initial discussion will provide you with an understanding of what to expect from the process and clarify which type of service may be best for you.
Conclusion
Although there are many benefits to hiring an attorney for your case, one of the greatest advantages is being able to sit down with an attorney at no cost to you.
As most people know, with every choice in life comes both positive and negative outcomes. The same holds true for your family law case.
Avoid making costly mistakes in your divorce or child custody case by scheduling a free consultation with a reliable family law attorney today.
