A family lawyer is trained to do much more than just mediate divorce proceedings. They are capable of handling alimony issues, child support issues, custody arrangements, and non-divorce issues. Before you hire this important person to handle your family business, make sure they meet a few important requirements. Here are the qualities to look for before you make the hire.
1. Experienced
The importance of experience is debatable but few would argue that having an experienced family attorney would be a bad thing. If your lawyer is experienced, this means he’s got a large portfolio of successful cases to show you, and if he succeeded in the past, he will likely succeed in your case as well.
2. Easy to talk to
Family attorneys delve into the darkest secrets of a family’s life. They encounter combative spouses and sometimes unsavory situations. Make sure that you are completely comfortable revealing your darkest secrets to the lawyer you interview for the job. This is the person who will know all about you and your family. If you’re uncomfortable with them, a case can quickly grow tiresome and awkward. Ask your potential lawyer a good set of questions to gauge how comfortable you will be speaking to them about your most sensitive personal matters.
3. Open about billing issues
Before you hire your family attorney, make sure that they have a very open billing policy that lets you know what you’ll be paying up front. Something like a divorce can be very expensive when you hire the wrong attorney to do your job. In the end, they can tack on hidden fees that you were never aware of. Make sure to discuss billing policies before hiring your new family lawyer. Above and beyond anything else, you want up front billing assessments that will help you meet your budget.
4. Understanding
This quality is especially important in the arena of family law. You don’t want a lawyer who is judgmental about certain family arrangements. For example, a lawyer who is prejudice against same-sex couples would definitely be out of the equation for a same-sex divorce. During the initial consultation, you can gauge the reaction of your attorney to certain sensitive topics surrounding your situation.
5. Passionate about your rights
Perhaps more than any other characteristic, this one is most important on some subjects. If your lawyer simply goes through the motion and doesn’t take much of a personal interest in justice, you might find that their work ethic in your case is severely lacking. When you have your first consultation with a potential lawyer, you will be able to surmise their level of interest and passion about your case. Some of the things you discuss will be very personal, so it’s up to you to decide how much you desire a lawyer who is passionate about your key topics.
Hiring a family attorney
Hiring a family lawyer will bring many advantages to your side of the case. No matter what the issue, these 5 previously mentioned qualities are going to encourage a more mutually beneficial relationship between your family and the lawyer. Don’t forget to look for these qualities before you hire the person who will know your deepest, darkest family secrets and guard your most important people and possessions. For those of you interested, you can learn more information at Matrimonial Home.
