how to find a lawyer for my chikd

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. ...
• Pro Bono. ...
• Resources to Investigate the Attorney's Reputation. ...
• Fire a Child Custody Attorney Who Isn't Meeting Your Needs. ...

Full Answer

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.

How do I find a lawyer who has been disciplinary?

Contact your local bar association for qualified attorneys in your area. State bar associations keep public records about complaints and disciplinary actions taken against attorneys licensed to practice in the state. Most local bar associations also have free referral services that can help you find an attorney to suit your case's needs.

Who decides a child will have a lawyer?

Who Decides a Child Will Have a Lawyer Judges can appoint a lawyer if they think this is necessary to protect the child's interests. Judges can do this on the request of one of the parents or on their own. Children can decide on their own that they need a lawyer. A lawyer will intervene in the parents' conflict on behalf of the child.

What should I look for when choosing a lawyer?

The lawyer will be helping you solve your problems, so the first qualification is that you must feel comfortable enough to tell him or her, honestly and completely, all the facts necessary to resolve your problem.

Are there any practical considerations to keep in mind when choosing a lawyer?

Yes, the lawyer’s area of expertise and prior experience are important. Many states have specialization programs that certify lawyers as specialists in certain types of law.

Where should I start to look for a lawyer?

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.

Are advertisements a good place to look for a lawyer?

In some ways, yes, ads are useful. However, always be careful about believing everything you read and hear — and nowhere is this truer than with advertisements. Newspaper, telephone directory, radio, television, and Internet ads, along with direct mail, can make you familiar with the names of lawyers who may be appropriate for your legal needs.

What about a local referral service?

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.

My new job offers a prepaid legal services plan. What can I expect?

Legal services, like many other things, are often less expensive when bought in bulk. Some employers, labor and credit unions, and other groups have formed “legal insurance” plans. These plans vary. Many cover most, if not all, of the cost of legal consultations, document preparation, and court representation in routine legal matters.

I want to hire a lawyer, but I do not have much money. Where can I find low-cost legal help?

Several legal assistance programs offer inexpensive or free legal services to those in need. Look in the yellow pages under topics such as “legal clinics,” “legal aid,” or “legal advice,” or search online. Most legal aid programs have special guidelines for eligibility, often based on where you live, the size of your family, and your income.

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.

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.

Why hire a lawyer?

Using the court or handling a legal matter without a lawyer is hard and risky. Even in what seems like a simple matter, you may inadvertently waive your rights, overlook an option or make a matter worse by going it alone. The law and the courts are full of unfamiliar terms, technical rules and complex procedures.

Types of lawyer services

Traditional Representation With traditional representation, the lawyer represents you in every part of a case or situation. Most often, this is done on an hourly basis. One challenge is that it is often difficult for you or the lawyer to know what the total cost will be.

Types of Legal Fees

Hourly Most legal work, including traditional representation, single task representation or advice visits, is done on a hourly basis. You are charged per hour at the lawyer’s hourly rate for all the work done for you.

How to find a lawyer

Use a Lawyer Referral Service In Kent County, the Grand Rapids Bar Association Lawyers Referral and Information Service will connect you with a lawyer who will provide a 30 minute consultation for $25. To schedule an appointment call 616-855-0273.

How to Pick a Lawyer

Call and Ask Questions Once you have a few names, call their offices. Ask if they will do a free initial conference. If it is not free, what does it cost? Ask if they are willing to give legal advice at a first visit? You want to know how much information you can expect to get before you commit to hiring the lawyer.

What to Look for in a Lawyer

Before looking for an attorney, decide what kind you need. Common fields include:

Find Free and Low-Cost Legal Help

These programs offer a variety of ways to get legal aid. Some limit their services to people with low incomes.

Find Legal Resources for Specific Groups

Stateside Legal - Find free legal help for military members, veterans, and their families.

Do you have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They'll get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

How long does it take to get a lawyer's profile?

Within 24 hours , your case is reviewed, evaluated, and when a lawyer is interested in taking your case, you'll receive a full attorney profile and their background information.

Is your privacy protected?

Your privacy is always protected - you decide when to disclose your personal information to interested attorneys. All member lawyers are pre-screened and in good standing with their state's bar associations. Review attorney's profiles and responses to your case before making a decision.

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.

Who decides if a child needs a lawyer?

Who Decides a Child Will Have a Lawyer. Judges can appoint a lawyer if they think this is necessary to protect the child’s interests. Judges can do this on the request of one of the parents or on their own. Children can decide on their own that they need a lawyer. A lawyer will intervene in the parents’ conflict on behalf of the child. ...

What does it mean when a child is old enough to be a lawyer?

If the Child Is Old Enough and Mature Enough. A child’s lawyer must act the same as towards an adult client. Therefore, the child has the right to expect the lawyer to. Lawyers acting for children must explain the child’s opinion to the judge and not give their own opinions.

Why do parents not want to have a lawyer?

When a Parent Does Not Want the Child to Have a Lawyer. One of the parents may not want a child to have a lawyer. These are some of the reasons parents give: The child does not need a lawyer. The child’s request for a lawyer is not really coming from the child but from the other parent, who is manipulating the child.

How to make sure a child's rights are respected?

make sure the child’s rights are respected, present any evidence or bring to light any element that could help the judge decide what is in the best interests of the child, make the child’s views known, if the child expresses a point of view, and. express their own conclusions as lawyers in an objective way.

What does a lawyer do for a child?

respect the duty to keep information confidential. Lawyers acting for children must explain the child’s opinion to the judge and not give their own opinions. This is true even if the child is being influenced by the parents.

Did the judge see the use of a lawyer to represent the children in the case?

The mother also admitted that the children wanted to live with their father. The judge did not see the use of appointing a lawyer to represent the children.

Can a child have a lawyer?

A child can be represented by a lawyer in any of these situations: The parents are so busy with their own issues that they are not aware of what the child wants and needs, or they cannot impartially decide what is best for the child. A representative is needed to protect the child’s interests.

What to do if your child is being bullied?

Call the police right away if your child has been physically assaulted in any way. The police might also get involved if the bullying qualifies as criminal harassment or cyberbullying. They’ll investigate, and the bully might end up in juvenile court.

What are the laws against bullying in schools?

State antibullying laws generally require schools to take specific steps in response to bullying, including disciplinary proceedings for the bullies that could lead to suspension or even expulsion from school.

Can a lawyer help with bullying?

Also, a lawyer could give you information about the possibility of filing a civil case against the bully for any harm any that was caused, or of suing the school district. Lawyers with extensive juvenile court experience should be well-suited to evaluate a situation involving bullying.