what to ask family lawyer

^{For this reason, it is wise to ask your potential family lawyer the following questions:}

1. “How long have you practiced family law?” This is one of the most important questions to ask your family lawyer. ...
2. “How many cases like mine have you handled?” When asked, many family lawyers will reply with a large number. ...
3. “Generally, how long does it take for you to respond to phone calls and emails?” It is important to be aware of the time it may take between calling ...
4. “Will anyone else be working on my case? Are they experienced?” Many family lawyers will have a team when working on complex cases, such as support associates and paralegals. ...
5. “How do you charge clients? Can you provide me with an estimate for my case?”

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What questions should I ask my family lawyer?

Sep 07, 2016 · 1. “How long have you practiced family law?” This is one of the most important questions to ask your family lawyer. You want to be sure that your divorce attorney is equipped with the experience and knowledge in family law that it takes to streamline your case.

Should you ask questions when hiring a lawyer?

Kelsey Mulholland of the Ruvolo Law Group, LLC weighs in with, "I think the most important questions for a parent to ask a divorce attorney at the very beginning of a litigation is whether the attorney thinks that parent's idea for a custody/parenting time arrangement is fair or not. Most parties come to an attorney with an idea as to what the custody/parenting time arrangement …

How do I choose a good lawyer?

Apr 09, 2015 · Ask follow-up questions, such as where and when any similar cases went to trial and their results, to ensure the attorney really knows the subject matter. Two: Do you practice in the courthouse where my case is (or will be)?

Why hire a family lawyer?

What questions should I ask my 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 do you talk about at a lawyer consultation?

You'll want to get details on what kind of procedures to expect. Ask how long it will take for the entire case to be resolved. Discuss the legal strategies that will be used. Find out if your attorney will attempt to settle and if mediation or arbitration are options.

How do I interview a family lawyer?

Family Lawyer Interview Questions:How do you ensure a mediation between family members remains calm? ... How do you keep your clients up-to-date on their cases? ... Can you describe your hardest family law case? ... What are the most important factors of a will? ... What is your method for prioritizing cases?

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

Below are ten questions to ask your potential lawyer.How long have you practiced law? ... What type of cases do you generally handle? ... Who is your typical client? ... How many cases have you represented that were similar to mine?More items...•Apr 13, 2018

What questions should I ask my first consultation lawyer?

Questions to ask a divorce attorney on the first visit about communicationHow often will we communicate about my case? ... How will we communicate with each other? ... What communication should I have with my spouse about the issues you and I discuss? ... How can I keep communication between my spouse and me amicable?More items...

What questions should I ask at family court?

Here are some questions that a judge may ask during a child custody hearing:What Is Your Financial Status?What Type of Custody Arrangement Are You Seeking?How Is Communication With the Other Parent?Do You Have Any Existing Arrangements?May 2, 2020

What do I need to know before hiring a divorce lawyer?

Ten Questions to Ask a Divorce AttorneyDo you specialize in divorces, or are divorces just a part of your practice? ... What is your strategy for my case? ... How long do you take to return phone calls? ... Will anyone else in your office be working on my case? ... How will you charge me?More items...

What do you say in a paralegal interview?

7 Paralegal Interview Questions You Need to KnowWhy did you pursue a career as a paralegal? ... What work experience do you have? ... How are your legal research skills? ... How organized are you and how do you check the accuracy of your work? ... Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation.More items...

Real advice from practicing attorneys

When meeting with attorneys for your initial consultation, here are some questions you should consider asking so you learn more about their experience and what to expect moving forward.

What is your approach?

Not all attorneys focus on family law. Additionally, not all attorneys take the same approach to divorce, especially when children are involved.

What are my options?

Another question to ask the attorneys you meet with that is related to the first one is what your options are. You should now know how the attorney or firm prefer to manage custody cases, but you should also find out if they're giving you the whole picture.

Am I being reasonable?

Divorce is a time of extreme emotional strain. When children are involved it's that much more amplified.

What exactly am I getting myself into?

After you have a basic grasp of how an attorney operates and whether or not you're starting off eye-to-eye as far as your expectations, getting a feel for the whole process from start to finish is a great idea.

Can I afford this?

Attorney fees are not miniscule. Even well-prepared parents that handle as much of the preparation as possible on their own, like using child custody software to develop a parenting plan instead of relying solely on an attorney to do so, can spend a small fortune on fees.

Staying organized

Finding the right attorney is only the beginning of your journey to child custody. You may need to create a parenting plan, draft multiple custody schedules, track your parenting time, calculate expenses and beyond.

How to feel comfortable with an attorney?

You should feel comfortable from the beginning of your attorney-client relationship that you will be able to have regular communications with your counsel. Make sure that you exchange contact information and agree on the ways that you will stay in touch.

Why is it important to choose the right lawyer?

Choosing the right lawyer is a very important decision—whether you were in a car accident, have a medical malpractice claim, or find yourself the target of a criminal investigation. Referrals from friends or co-workers can be great, but you need to do your homework to make sure you have the right attorney for the job.

What is a conflict in a lawyer?

If the lawyer’s representation of prior or existing clients would limit the attorney’s ability to represent you, there is likely a conflict. For example, if you want to sue a hospital that the potential lawyer regularly represents, there would be a conflict. A conflict might also arise if the attorney you are interviewing has already been hired by ...

What is the importance of having a lawyer?

Getting a lawyer with the right legal background is essential, but it is also important to know whether your attorney has experience with the judges who will likely preside over your case. If yours is a criminal matter, it is important to know if your lawyer knows the local prosecutors. This courtroom experience can greatly enhance your lawyer’s ability to evaluate the likely outcomes in your case and give you advice that you can rely on.

How can a lawyer save you money?

Your lawyer can often save you money by delegating routine tasks to firm employees who charge a lower hourly rate. However, your lawyer should be involved in all key aspects and decisions of your case, or should explain to you why a colleague can handle some important part of the matter just as well.

What is the process of a civil case?

In civil cases, your lawyer might propose mediation , a settlement negotiation process involving a neutral third-party. Other times, arbitration might be an option. Arbitration— using a private service to adjudicate a dispute—is a less formal, less costly, and faster way of getting a decision in some civil matters.

What is contingency fee?

In cases where you are suing for monetary damages, the lawyer may represent you for a “contingency fee.”. This means the attorney gets paid a portion (typically one-third) of the amount you receive after a successful trial or settlement. Make sure you discuss expenses as well as attorney fees.

Answers for your family law questions

What is family law? Essentially, this branch of the law is centered around legal issues pertaining to familial connections and relationships. Lawyers who practice family law generally handle child support and custody cases, divorces, paternity disputes, and other comparable legal matters.

Common family law questions on JustAnswer

Some of the family law questions that have been addressed on JustAnswer include:

Background Questions for Custody Attorneys

Questions to ask about a child custody attorney's legal education and professional experience include:

Legal Philosophy & Style

You'll want to ask about the custody lawyer's style and approach to practicing law. Among the questions to consider asking:

Assessment of Your Child Custody Case

Get the lawyer's assessment of your case. Relevant questions to ask include:

Case Management

Questions to ask about how your custody issue will be managed include:

Legal Fees

Questions to ask about the estimated cost of your custody case include:

At the End of Your Meeting

Before the meeting ends, ask the lawyer if there are other questions you should have asked, or anything else the attorney wants to tell you. Is there anything you should know before deciding whether to hire him or her?

Hiring a Child Custody Attorney

Once you've had the opportunity to meet one or more attorneys, you'll need to review the results of those meetings before deciding which lawyer to hire. Among the factors to consider:

What time do you call a lawyer?

Select the best time for you to receive a follow-up call from a lawyer after your question is answered. ( Required field) Morning (8:00AM to 12:00PM) Afternoon (12:00PM to 5:00PM) Evening (5:00PM to 9:00PM) Other. AM PM.

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Can you be stuck with a property that was passed to four beneficiaries?

It depends somewhat on how the property was bequeathed. If it was directly passed in undivided interests to four beneficiaries you may be stuck with it, absent agreement or a law suit for partition of the property (a court ordered sale). If on the other hand the property is simply in the "residue" of the estate and not specifically passed, then generally it will need to be... Read More

What happens if my wife doesn't have a will?

If she did not have a will, then the property will depending upon the circumstances pass to those heirs named in the Texas statutes on Intestacy. Hire a lawyer. If your wife had a will that left everything to you then you need to probate it. If she did not have a will, then the property will...

Is a business name the same as a trademark?

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