how to find a family law attorney for minor

The best resource for parents who are seeking information on a good child custody attorney is to seek references from other people. Important references to obtain on child custody attorneys include: Asking friends and family members Seeking advice from court clerks at the court office

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How do I find a local family lawyer?

Jan 30, 2020 · If your legal issue falls under one of these categories, then a family law attorney can help. Search for a Family Law Attorney Near the Area Where Your Case Will be Filed. Hiring a family law attorney near the area where your case will be filed is beneficial because the attorney will be familiar with the court staff, judges, and court buildings. This can make proceedings go …

How do I find a good child custody attorney?

A lawyer experienced in child custody cases can help you get the custody arrangement that's in the best interests of your child. If you're going through a divorce and you have children, you and your spouse must work out a parenting plan that sets out custody and the frequency of visitation. If you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement ...

What should I do if my child is involved in family law?

Oct 02, 2020 · The Texas Family Code defines an attorney ad litem as “an attorney who provides legal services to a person, including a child.” In family law cases, a minor often does not have a legal representative unless the Court appoints one. When such representation is needed, the Court would handle such an appointment. Amicus Attorney

Do I need a family-law attorney?

Jun 11, 2020 · One of these ways is to find an attorney who is willing to volunteer her services to you pro bono or free of charge. Method 1 Using Legal Aid Programs Download Article 1 Locate your nearest legal aid office. Search online to find the …

What is a family law attorney?

A family law attorney is a type of attorney who is trained to practice in a particular area of law that applies to legal issues that arise in connection with domestic relationships. Thus, family law attorneys may handle cases that involve: child custody, alimony and child support payments, marriage, divorce, adoptions, child protective orders, ...

What can a family lawyer do?

An experienced family lawyer will be able to analyze the facts of your situation, can explain how the law and any previously signed agreements may affect the outcome of your case based on their findings, and can discuss the potential options you have to move forward.

What a Child Abuse lawyer can do for you

If a child has been the victim of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, a child abuse lawyer can help you figure out the right child custody, visitation, or guardianship to protect the child. If you are accused of child abuse, a child abuse lawyer can also determine the best strategy to defend against the charges or clear your name.

Why hire a Child abuse attorney

A child abuse lawyer understands issues related to child abuse and neglect, and child physical or emotional abuse claims can arise in a variety of contexts and motives. Sometimes the young victim tells a relative, who then files a lawsuit; at other times, a government agency such as Child Protective Services may press charges.

Did you know?

About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, therefore continuing the cycle of abuse.

Expert Q&A

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Tips

It is fine to let attorneys know during the initial consultation that you are interviewing other candidates for your case. Attorneys expect that potential clients are interviewing other attorneys, and appreciate your honesty about it.

Warnings

If your case is settled out of court and you are entitled to money, your attorney cannot refuse to pay you what you’re owed.

About This Article

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. This article has been viewed 78,149 times.

Determine Whether a Family Law Attorney Can Help

Some people are not clear about the areas that a family law attorney can help. Here are several issues where you would want a family law attorney on your side rather than another type of lawyer:

Search for a Family Law Attorney Near the Area Where Your Case Will be Filed

Hiring a family law attorney near the area where your case will be filed is beneficial because the attorney will be familiar with the court staff, judges, and court buildings. This can make proceedings go smoother and make it easier to file paperwork.

Check Online Reviews

Online reviews can be a good resource when you want to know about an attorney you are unfamiliar with. Read what people are saying, especially if the review is from someone who had the same type of case you’re seeking representation for. See how they describe the attorney’s work and if they were satisfied.

How to Find a Family Law Attorney: Look for Expertise

The outcome of a family law case can drastically impact your life. When you’re wondering how to find a family law attorney remember to look for one who has experience in the issue you need help with.

Make Sure the Attorney Has Time for Your Case

Although you can’t expect your attorney to devote all of their time and attention to your case, you want to make sure the attorney has the time needed to handle your case. You want the attention that your case deserves to give you a better chance of a positive outcome.

Make a List & Narrow Your Choices

After doing your research, make a list of a few attorneys you are considering. Some offices offer a free first consultation where you can ask several questions about your cars. With others, you may be able to ask questions over the phone. Whichever the case, you want to be sure to ask the following questions:

Ask Your Attorney What Their Plan of Action Would Be

After hearing the specifics of your case, your attorney should have a basic plan of action. How do they plan on preparing for your case? What information or documents will you need to provide? What are the steps that need to be taken? These are all questions that your attorney should be able to answer as they devise their plan of action.

How can a lawyer help you with custody?

A child custody lawyer can help you negotiate custody, either by agreement or in court. The custodial parent (the one the child lives with) earns the legal right to make decisions regarding the child's lifestyle, welfare, and education.

What can a child custody lawyer do?

A lawyer experienced in child custody cases can help you get the custody arrangement that's in the best interests of your child. If you're going through a divorce and you have children, you and your spouse must work out a parenting plan that sets out custody and the frequency of visitation.

What does joint custody mean?

Some parents opt for joint custody, which means children divide their time between both parents' homes, and parents share the right to make decisions on behalf of the children. If you as parents are unable to agree on child custody, a judge will decide for you.

What is family law in Texas?

With regard to family law, this is especially true for cases that involve children, such as divorce, child custody, adoption, child protective services (CPS) proceedings, name changes, and others. The Texas Family Code outlines the specific powers and duties associated with court appointed attorney advocates who can be involved in family law cases, ...

What is an amicus attorney?

An amicus attorney is a court appointed attorney who will act on behalf of the judge outside of the courtroom. For a judge making decisions about what is in the best interest of your child or children, having a better idea about what goes on outside of court can be helpful in their decision making.

How does an ad litem attorney work?

The court can appoint an ad litem attorney on its own or on the motion of one or both of the parties. When there is a suspected case of child abuse or neglect or where CPS takes court action to terminate parental rights or to make CPS the conservator, a court must appoint an attorney ad litem to represent the child or children. The costs are often split between the parties. A case will take longer with an ad litem because their job is to conduct a thorough examination of both parties to help ensure the judge makes a decision that is in the best interest of the subject child or children.

What is guardian ad litem?

A guardian ad litem is a “guardian at law,” representing the interests of a person involved in a court case. The most common types of cases in which a guardian ad litem is appointed to represent a minor are family law and probate. These are often lawyers but do not have to be. They do not solely work with children and may represent others – such as the elderly or a person whose competence is under review or being adjudicated. The court can appoint a guardian ad litem and/or any party involved in the case can request one.

What is the stress of divorce?

Because these cases often involve sensitive information, as well as information concerning minor children, they can require additional legal assistance by court appointed attorneys.

What to do if you don't qualify for legal aid?

If you don't qualify for assistance from legal aid, you might qualify for a state or local bar association program. Bar associations often have pro bono programs that offer assistance to people who meet other criteria, even if their income is too high for legal aid.

Who is Jennifer Mueller?

Jennifer Mueller is an in-house legal expert at wikiHow. Jennifer reviews, fact-checks, and evaluates wikiHow's legal content to ensure thoroughness and accuracy. She received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2006.

Can't afford to hire a lawyer?

If you can’t afford to hire a lawyer, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go it alone. Many lawyers volunteer their time to help families who need legal representation. And local law schools may run clinics where you can get help.

How to get help with child custody?

How to get free or low-cost help with your child custody case. If you can’t afford to hire a lawyer, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go it alone. Many lawyers volunteer their time to help families who need legal representation. And local law schools may run clinics where you can get help. Here are a few strategies for finding affordable assistance: 1 Contact local legal aid offices. 2 Check the website of your local family court for legal resources. (To find your court, visit our court information page and enter your zip code.) 3 Contact local law schools to see if they operate a legal clinic.