how to find a good custody attorney

by Jaeden Langosh 4 min read

How to Find a Good Child Custody Attorney

  • References. The best resource for parents who are seeking information on a good child custody attorney is to seek references from other people.
  • Interview. It's important for single parents to interview a potential child custody attorney before hiring them.
  • Pro Bono. If a single parent cannot afford a paid attorney, he or she may qualify for a court-appointed attorney.
  • Resources to Investigate the Attorney's Reputation. Checking the attorney directory in your state. ...
  • Fire a Child Custody Attorney Who Isn't Meeting Your Needs. Don't worry about making a mistake. ...

References
  1. Asking friends and family members.
  2. Seeking advice from court clerks at the court office.
  3. Inquiring of other parents, strangers included, who currently have cases at the child support office.
  4. The state bar association can pass on referrals.
  5. Depending on your state, some courts may maintain a network of attorneys.
Sep 17, 2020

How to ask questions to an attorney about child custody?

First, make sure that you are talking to a lawyer who specializes in family law, and who is from the general area where you are going to Court. Basically before you can can ask questions to an Attorney about child custody you need to make sure you are talking to a family law specialist.

How can a child custody lawyer help you negotiate custody of your children?

If you are getting divorced and have children, part of the divorce agreement will involve determining where and with whom the children will live. A child custody lawyer can help you negotiate custody, either by agreement or in court.

How do I find a good family lawyer?

Make a list of the potential attorneys you have found in your area. Include the attorney’s name, address, phone number and website address. This will help you organize your search as you move forward. Review each attorney’s website.

How to find the right lawyer for your case?

You will, however, need to take your time with the search. Focus your efforts on finding a lawyer that has dealt with your specific legal issue in the past and that you get along with personally. Taking the time to find the right lawyer will be worth it, as they are more likely to help you win your case.

image

What is malicious mother syndrome?

When this syndrome occurs, a divorced or divorcing parent seeks to punish the other parent, sometimes going far enough as to harm or deprive their children in order to make the other parent look bad. Though most commonly called malicious mother syndrome, both mothers and fathers can be capable of such actions.

What is an attorney called?

In the United States, the terms lawyer and attorney are often used interchangeably. For this reason, people in and out of the legal field often ask, “is an attorney and a lawyer the same thing?”. In colloquial speech, the specific requirements necessary to be considered a lawyer vs attorney aren't always considered.

What is an attorney UK?

Anyone who likes police or legal fiction will probably have noticed that the U.K. uses the term solicitor where the U.S. uses the term attorney.

What's the difference between a lawyer and an advocate?

An advocate is a specialist attorney who represents clients in a court of law. Unlike an attorney an advocate does not deal directly with the client – the attorney will refer the client to an advocate when the situation requires it. Advocates can also appear in the higher courts on behalf of a client.

What does Esq mean for a lawyer?

In the United States, esquire (often shortened to Esq.) is a title of courtesy, given to a lawyer and commonly appended to his/her surname (e.g., John Smith, Esq. or John Smith, Esquire) when addressing the lawyer in written form.

What three decisions Cannot be made by a legal power of attorney?

You cannot give an attorney the power to: act in a way or make a decision that you cannot normally do yourself – for example, anything outside the law. consent to a deprivation of liberty being imposed on you, without a court order.

When should you make a lasting power of attorney?

An ordinary power of attorney is only valid while you have the mental capacity to make your own decisions. If you want someone to be able to act on your behalf if there comes a time when you don't have the mental capacity to make your own decisions you should consider setting up a lasting power of attorney.

Who makes decisions if no power of attorney?

If you have not given someone authority to make decisions under a power of attorney, then decisions about your health, care and living arrangements will be made by your care professional, the doctor or social worker who is in charge of your treatment or care.

Then Check Calbar.org

Another important step to take is to check out your lawyer's California State Bar profile at www.calbar.org. From this, you can determine whether or not your Attorney has had any disciplinary actions.

Make Sure You Have a Clear Position

Next, with respect to Child Custody, you want to make sure that you make whatever your position is clear. That means you need to know what kind of custody you would like of your children. The first thing you should know is that in California, we break down custody into two types: "Legal Custody" and "Physical Custody".

What is "Legal Custody" in California?

The first is "Legal Custody", this means who has the right to make legal decisions for the child/children such as where to go to school, the doctor, or where to worship, etc.

What is "Physical Custody" in California?

The second type of Custody is "Physical Custody", and this is essentially where the child resides. Of course each child, and each family is different, so you will need to decide what sort of custody is in the best interests of your children. The "best interests of the children" is the standard in family law by which the Court makes its decisions.

Don't Settle, Find an Attorney You Like

Finally, you want to work with an Attorney you get along with. In family law court, a Judge rather than a Jury decides the issues, so an Attorney who really lays on the theatrics is not as important as having an Attorney who is articulate and effective.

Have more questions on how to find a good child custody lawyer?

Ask your questions or add your comments below; we would love to hear them.

How to choose a lawyer?

4. Choose a Local Attorney 1 It’s much easier to meet without having to take a whole day off work or travel a great distance. 2 Local representation may also make an attorney easier to vet—perhaps a friend can refer you or the regional bar association has recommendations. 3 Attorneys operating in a specific geographical area may also have established relationships with judges and courthouse staff that can prove beneficial.

Who do you need to communicate with in family law?

They also may need to communicate with people that work outside of family law, like accountants, Skills in this area are understandably important.

Is there a universal roadmap to finding a child custody lawyer?

The best match for one person’s personality and circumstances may not be quite as perfect for another. While there’s no universal roadmap to finding the best child custody lawyer, there are qualities to consider in your search.

Is it expensive to hire a child custody lawyer?

Hiring an attorney tends to be quite expensive . Considering your financial resources, what you can and can’t spend, is important in determining the best child custody lawyer for you. Knowing up front how an attorney handles billing helps you manage expenses and keep a realistic expectation of the cost.

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.

How important is finding a good attorney?

Finding a good attorney may be the most important step you can take toward winning a legal case and it doesn't have to be a difficult task. You will, however, need to take your time with the search.

What is a family law attorney?

Family law attorneys handle matters such as separation, divorce, pre-nuptial agreements, adoption, guardianship, child custody and support. Personal injury law. Personal injury attorneys handle cases involving medical malpractice, dog bites, car accidents and any injury to a person that may be the fault of another.

What percentage of a settlement does an attorney receive?

The attorney will receive a percentage of the settlement amount, usually between 30 to 40 percent.

How many years of experience do I need to become an attorney?

Typically, you should look for an attorney with at least three to five years of experience practicing the type of law you need help with. Additionally, you should choose an attorney that currently practices in the area you need help with.

Do I have to pay more for legal fees?

Keep in mind that even with a strict budget, if your case becomes significantly more complicated or takes significantly longer than the attorney originally anticipated, you may need to pay more in legal fees. If you cannot afford the attorney’s fees upfront, ask about potential arrangements such as payment plans.

Do attorneys charge for consultations?

Most attorneys do consultation appointments for free. However, some may charge a small fee for a consultation. Make certain that you know whether you will be charged, and don't make an appointment with an attorney who isn't forthcoming about these details. Most attorneys offer consultations for free.

image

Interview

  • It's important for single parents to interview a potential child custody attorney before hiring them. Some questions to ask are surrounding: 1. Personality and Style - A single parent wants to ensure that an attorney's personality and style matches his or her own. It doesn't have to be exactly the …
See more on verywellfamily.com

Pro Bono

  • If a single parent cannot afford a paid attorney, he or she may qualify for a court-appointed attorney. A court-appointed attorney will serve to represent the single parent, in the same way as a paid attorney.
See more on verywellfamily.com

Resources to Investigate The Attorney's Reputation

  • There are several resources that a parent may use to check an attorney's reputation, including: 1. Checking the attorney directory in your state. The attorney directory will let a parent know if an attorney is in good standing with the state bar or if their attorney's license has been suspended and if so, the reasons for suspension status. Most states require attorneys to reveal that inform…
See more on verywellfamily.com

Fire A Child Custody Attorney Who Isn't Meeting Your Needs

  • Don't worry about making a mistake. If the agreement between you and your attorney is no longer effective or does not meet your needs, release the attorney from his or her duties and begin a new search for a new child custody attorney. For more information about finding good attorneys, parents should refer to additional resources on child custody lawyers or a parent can speak wit…
See more on verywellfamily.com

Similar Case Experience

Image
If you’re after the best child custodylawyer for you, one component is experience in similar cases. Look for an attorney with skills in the areas your circumstances require. 1. 1.1. Is your case going to be complex and high conflict? 1.2. Does your child have special needs? 1.3. Is there an interstate element or a jurisdiction issu…
See more on goldbergjones-or.com

Specialization in Custody Cases

  • Like experience, specialization is also something to look for when trying to find the best child custody lawyer to represent you. Many are well-versed in multiple areas, but if an attorney is more interested in high-asset divorces, he or she may not be the right choice. Do your homework and make sure the skill set matches your specific needs. Related Reading: How Legal Marijuana Us…
See more on goldbergjones-or.com

Knowledge of Jurisdiction Laws

  • Laws and regulations vary a great deal from one state to the next. The best child custody lawyer for your situation is one with an in-depth knowledge of the rules where you live. Or at least where the case will be handled—they’re not always the same. In Oregon, it makes sense to hire an attorney who knows the ins and outs of Oregon law and how to aim for an optimal outcome. Bu…
See more on goldbergjones-or.com

Accessibility

We can't find any more info about this page right now

Communication

  • This is someone you have to communicate with, but they also need to communicate on your behalf with the opposing party, judges, other lawyers, and your spouse. They also may need to communicate with people that work outside of family law, like accountants, Skills in this area are understandably important. Whoever you hire is also a person you have to spend time with and w…
See more on goldbergjones-or.com

Consideration of Your Financial Resources

  • No surprise, hiring an attorney tends to be quite expensive. Considering your financial resources, what you can and can’t spend, is important in determining the best child custody lawyer for you. Knowing up front how an attorney handles billing helps you manage expenses and keep a realistic expectation of the cost. Related Reading: Can the Custodial Parent Relocate With Your Child?
See more on goldbergjones-or.com

Compassion

  • Divorce and cases involving kids and guardianship are intense, emotional times. The best child custody lawyer for you may be one who knows this and understands what’s at stake for your family. You don’t necessarily need someone to hold your hand every step of the way. You can always hire a therapist or lean on family and friends for that. You do, however, want to find some…
See more on goldbergjones-or.com