how do i find a good family lawyer

How to Find a Good Family Law Attorney.

• 1. Determine whether you need a family-law attorney. The first step in finding the right attorney is realizing that you need one. You also need to ...
• 2. Determine the venue. Normally you will bring a legal case in the county where both parties live or in the county in which the opposing party lives.
• 3. Search for a family-law attorney in the county where you will file your case. Begin making a list of possible attorneys as soon as you have made ...
• 4. Do some research. Some simple online research can serve as a background check of sorts and provide a wealth of information about some of the ...

Full Answer

How do you become a family law attorney?

How are family law attorneys paid? An hourly rate. You pay for every hour your lawyer works on your case. This is the most common arrangement but it can vary by practice area. A flat fee. You pay a fixed payment amount. This is usually only offered if a case is …

Why do you need a family lawyer?

Mar 11, 2022 · You can find a lawyer through your local bar association, or if you are eligible, through free legal service programs. Before you sign a retainer agreement with a lawyer, you should review the Statement of Client’s Rights and Responsibilities.

How to become a family attorney?

There are many ways to find a reliable lawyer. One of the best is a recommendation from a trusted friend, relative, or business associate. Be aware, however, that each legal case is different and that a lawyer who is right for someone else may not suit you or your legal problem.

What is the cost of a family lawyer?

Lauren has years of experience in family law and an impeccable legal resume: speaking engagements on a variety of family law issues teaching other lawyers; ... When you need a good lawyer. You need a fighter on your side. Nelson Law Office will fight to get you the justice that you deserve. Every person and situation is unique.

How do I choose a family lawyer?

How Do You Find The Best Family LawyerStart Looking As Early As Possible. ... Ask Around or Check Reviews. ... Choose An Expert. ... Meet Your Lawyer. ... Personal Compatibility. ... Accessibility. ... Look For Warning Signs. ... Don't Let Cost Be The Only Factor.Jun 14, 2018

What should you consider when hiring a lawyer?

Things to Consider When Hiring a LawyerThe Firm/Lawyer's Specialty in the Areas of Law You Need.Years of Experience & Success.The Firm's Resources at Your Disposal.The Lawyers Communication with You to Make Sure You Know Whats Going On, and.Comfort Level when Speaking with the Lawyer and the Firm's Team.

What qualities make a good family lawyer?

7 Important Traits of the Best Family Law LawyersThe lawyer's integrity. ... The family law lawyer's diligence. ... The lawyer's communication skills. ... The lawyer's objectivity. ... The family law lawyer's patience. ... The family law lawyer document preparation skills. ... The family law lawyer skill and experience inside the courtroom.

How do I find a good local lawyer?

Most communities have referral services to help people find lawyers. You might be able to find them under “Lawyer Referral Service” or something similar in your yellow pages. These services usually recommend a lawyer in the area to evaluate a situation.Sep 9, 2019

How do you ask a lawyer for help?

How to Ask Another Attorney for HelpStep 1: Know What You Need To Ask. It is best to determine how much help you need before picking up the phone. ... Step 2: Be Respectful of Their Time and Schedule.Step 3: Respect Their Advice.

What additional things should you find out about when hiring a lawyer?

If you are considering hiring an attorney, here are five things to keep in mind.Look for an attorney that specializes in the type of legal issue you are facing. ... Look for an attorney that practices law where you live or in the area where your legal issue is taking place. ... Consider the experience of the attorney.More items...

What skills do you need for family law?

Family Lawyer Skills For a successful career, you will need the following: Aptitude in client-facing matters and exceptional communication skills. The ability to empathise while remaining professional. The ability to cope with emotionally taxing situations.Aug 2, 2021

What kinds of questions would you ask a lawyer?

Questions to Ask Your Lawyer During a Consultation1) What kind of experience do you have with similar cases?2) What would be your strategy for my case?3) Are there any alternatives to going to court?4) What are my possible outcomes?5) Who will actually handle my case?6) What is my role in my case?More items...•Jan 29, 2017

What source online would you think is the most reliable for finding a quality lawyer?

Best for Finding a Lawyer FindLaw Every legal issue requires a different type of attorney and the best place to find them all is FindLaw. The online directory lists hundreds of U.S. attorneys in 119 specific areas of law, making it easy to find the most qualified practitioner for your case.

What do you say when you call a lawyer?

0:261:20What To Say When You Call An Attorney - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipKnow kind of ballpark. Terms where you're coming from. And then you can elaborate on your specific.MoreKnow kind of ballpark. Terms where you're coming from. And then you can elaborate on your specific. Situation. And when you keep it simple in the beginning it really does make it easier.

Expert Q&A

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

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.

What can a family law attorney do?

A family law attorney can act as a mediator, fighting for custody of your children, getting you back-owed child support, and negotiating for you on cases of alimony. Select your state or city to find an attorney near you.

What is family law?

Family law attorneys deal with issues related to family life and domestic relationships, including spousal relationships and parent-child relationships.

How does divorce dissolve a marriage?

All states allow for no-fault divorces, in which one spouse files for divorce by stating a general reason, such as the inability to get along in the relationship.

Do both parents have legal custody?

One or both parents will also have legal custody, or the ability to make major decisions about the children's health care, education, and religion. Child support: By law, noncustodial parents must contribute a monthly amount to help provide for the children's expenses. A family court will determine the payment amount.

What is alimony in divorce?

Alimony: Also known as spousal support, alimony refers to the payments that one spouse provides for another after a divorce is finalized.

What happens when a spouse divorces?

When spouses divorce, questions of child custody and child support arise. Common family law issues include: Child custody: One or both parents may be granted physical custody to determine whether the children will live with one or both parents and whether one parent will have visitation rights.

What is an identified adoption?

These include adoptions in which the birth mother and the adoptive parents become acquainted independently and seek the help of an adoption agency to finalize the process. International adoptions. These include adoptions in which the parents bring a child from another country into the family.

How to find a lawyer for a lawsuit?

Here are a few other sources you can turn to for possible candidates in your search for a lawyer: 1 The director of your state or local chamber of commerce may be a good source of business lawyers. 2 The director of a nonprofit group interested in the subject matter that underlies your lawsuit is sure to know lawyers who work in that area. For example, if your dispute involves trying to stop a major new subdivision, it would make sense to consult an environmental group committed to fighting urban sprawl. 3 A law librarian can help identify authors in your state who have written books or articles on a particular subject -- for example, construction law. 4 A women's or men's support group will probably have a list of well-regarded family and divorce lawyers.

What is a lawyer referral service?

Lawyer referral services are another source of information. There is a wide variation in the quality of lawyer referral services, however, even though they are required to be approved by the state bar association. Some lawyer referral services carefully screen attorneys and list only those attorneys with particular qualifications and a certain amount of past experience, while other services will list any attorney in good standing with the state bar who maintains liability insurance. Before you choose a lawyer referral service, ask what its qualifications are for including an attorney and how carefully lawyers are screened.

What is Nolo lawyer directory?

Nolo offers a unique lawyer directory that provides a comprehensive profile for each attorney with information that will help you select the right attorney. The profiles tell you about the lawyer's experience, education, and fees, and perhaps most importantly, the lawyer's general philosophy of practicing law.

How much does a lawyer charge an hour?

Lawyers, of course, are prime sources of this information, but if you bought all the needed information at their rates -- $150 to $450 an hour -- you'd quickly empty your bank account.

What can a law librarian do?

A law librarian can help identify authors in your state who have written books or articles on a particular subject -- for example, construction law. A women's or men's support group will probably have a list of well-regarded family and divorce lawyers.

Do lawyers work with you?

Fortunately, many lawyers will work with you to help you acquire a good working knowledge of the legal principles and procedures you need to deal with your problem at least partly on your own. If you are hoping to represent yourself and use a lawyer only for advice, make sure the lawyer is open to that type of set-up.

What does legal insurance cover?

These plans vary. Many cover most, if not all, of the cost of legal consultations, document preparation, and court representation in routine legal matters. Other programs cover only advice and consultation with a lawyer.

How long can you be in jail for a crime?

Constitution guarantees you the right to be represented by a lawyer in any case in which you could be incarcerated for six months or more. State constitutions may guarantee your right to a lawyer for lesser crimes.

Can you be incarcerated for six months?

If you are accused of a crime, the U.S. Constitution guarantees you the right to be represented by a lawyer in any case in which you could be incarcerated for six months or more. State constitutions may guarantee your right to a lawyer for lesser crimes. If you cannot afford a lawyer, either the judge hearing the case will appoint a private lawyer to represent you free of charge or the government’s public defender will handle your case, also at no charge.

The Campbell Law Group PA

The Campbell Law Group prides itself on being a friendly and honest, “boutique” law firm in Coral Gables. We specialize in both Family and Corp... Read More

The Walton Law Firm, PLLC

The law is the most valuable when it prevents people, familes, businesses and communities are protected from wrongful actions and from suffering inju... Read More#N#stices. In instances where injustice has already occured, then the law must ensure that those injured are fairly compensated.

Mott Marvin Kornicki, Notary

Mott has been a Florida Notary Public for over 30 years! Experience in Apostille Signing "Authentications", Mobil Signing Agent, Mortgage Closing Doc... Read More

The SG Law Firm PLLC

We are attorney who Establish, Maintain, Protect and Defend Businesses and Families. We have unwavering integrity.

Law Office Of Sara J. Saba, P.A

Attorney Sara Saba has specialized in all Divorce and Family law matters since 2004 and represents clients in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.... Read More

Law Office Of Jerome P. Ventura PA

Divorce/Child Support/Paternity/Father's Rights/Alimony Mediation Services Contested and Uncontested Divorces & Family Law Cases www.jeromepventu... Read More#N#ra.com

THE DEUTSCH LAW FIRM PLLC

We are a boutique firm handling Prenuptial Agreements, Post Nuptial Agreements, Wills, Trust & Estates, Divorce and Personal Injury and Medical M... Read More

Tap Your Network

Ask around among your family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances to see if they know of any attorneys they could recommend. Personal references can be some of the most reliable references you will find.

Do Some Research

You can run an attorney search at databases such as Avvo and Martindale Hubbell, which provide information such as practice areas, location, disciplinary records, and lawyer reviews.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer

Now that you have some attorney options, it’s time to choose. To get you started, here’s a list of questions to ask an attorney before hiring them:

More Considerations When Hiring a Lawyer

One way to get a feel for an attorney’s practice is to be observant when you go for your first consultation.

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.

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.

What is hourly rate in law?

Lawyers charging an hourly rate “bill” hours and then charge the client for the amount of hours worked on the client’s matter. Usually, hourly rates are used by businesses and corporations who may be involved in litigation. Additionally, individuals may be charged hourly rates for long or complicated litigation. ...

What is an engagement letter?

This is a contract between you and your attorney that defines the nature of the legal engagement you are involved in, and the conditions and terms of your agreement with your attorney.

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.

What is an individual lawyer?

Individual lawyers (also called attorneys) are experts in different areas of the law. Some attorneys specialize in a certain field of law, such as business, civil, criminal, or juvenile law. You will need to determine which type of attorney is right for your legal situation.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Keep in mind, Chapter 7 bankruptcy information stays on your credit report for 10 years. This can make it hard to get credit, buy a home, receive life insurance, or get a job. Learn more about bankruptcy, and other options for dealing with debt .

How to Find The Right Lawyer

See all 8 steps on www.wikihow.com

Consider A Specialist

Interview The Prospective Lawyers

Further Resources

• Locating a good lawyer who can efficiently help with your particular problem may not be easy. Don't expect to locate a good lawyer by simply looking in the phone book or reading an advertisement. There's not enough information in these sources to help you make a valid judgment.

See more on nolo.com