Do: Demystify the Law and the Legal Process
The family/domestic law process, and the laws governing the area, can be confusing at best and completely overwhelming at worst. It’s not hard to understand why people feel overwhelmed considering that the situations that end up in family/domestic court are emotionally charged, that most people don’t have much (if any) experience in the area, and that judges and courtrooms are inherently intimidating. Given all that, almost anyone would feel overwhelmed when dealing with a family law case.
A good family law attorney will explain and help you understand the law and the process the case will follow. Having knowledge about what’s coming and having an attorney who you can trust is on top of everything is a huge weight off your shoulders and will free you up to think through the big picture aspects of the case, plus continue to take care of life outside of the case.
Do: Listen and Understand Your Situation
One of the most overlooked skills of the best family law attorneys is the ability to listen. Attorneys know the law, but they don’t know your situation or your goals.
The best attorneys will listen much more than talk in the first few meetings – after all, how can an attorney possibly help you get to where you want to be if they don’t know your situation or your goals? The best family law attorneys understand that cases are not one size fits all, that the best outcomes are the result of attorneys and clients working together to understand both the situation and the law and that the only way to get to that place is to listen to and understand your client.
Do: Help You Think Through Your Options
Your attorney is not the ultimate decision-maker in your case, you are.
Your attorney will handle day-to-day aspects of your case, but the big decisions (what orders to seek/positions to take, if a proposed agreement is acceptable, etc.) are the client’s decisions to make. Having said that, clients often don’t have much knowledge of the options or the reasonable/likely outcomes in the case. A great family law attorney works hard to make sure their client understands their options, and the possible/likely outcome of those options. The client makes the ultimate decision, and a great family law attorney provides all the information the client needs to make their decision an informed one.
Do: Work Hard to Reach an Amicable Agreement
Judges are not experts in your family or your situation. Judges do their best but oftentimes the only information they have about your family, your situation, and what will or has been working for your family is the information you can provide during a few hour hearing. That all means that contested hearings are inherently risky and that a stipulated agreement (even one that requires both sides to compromise) is more likely to lead to a sustainable parenting plan and/or satisfactory division of property than a contested hearing.
There are certainly times when an agreement is simply not possible and a contested hearing is the only option, but a great family law attorney looks for a reasonable agreement first and considers a contested hearing as the last option rather than the first.
Do: Represent You Comfortably and Confidently in Court
Some attorneys are well versed in, and well suited for, litigation and some simply are not. While a stipulated agreement is always preferred, a great family law attorney understands that agreements can fall apart quickly and cases can end up in contested hearings unexpectedly.
Being unprepared in Court is a recipe for disaster, so great family law attorneys hope for the best and plan for the worst. No great attorney is going to assume that an agreement is going to come through – instead, a great family law attorney is going to be assuming and preparing for a contested hearing until a signed agreement is submitted to the Court.
Beyond that, a great family law attorney will have the experience and disposition that will allow them to navigate the courtroom and any issues that arise in it comfortably and confidently.
Do: Give You Honest, Transparent Guidance
As I noted above, you are the ultimate decision-maker in your case. But your attorney should, and a great family law attorney will, give you clear and frank advice about what the law allows and how the courts typically handle certain situations. Clear and frank advice from your attorney is the only way you can make informed decisions.
Having a yes man as an attorney, or someone who only tells you what you want to hear, may be great until it’s time to go in front of the court. In the end it’s much better to understand the likelihood of the outcome you are asking for, as compared to thinking it’s practically a given only to be surprised in court.
Don’t: Waste Your Money
Family law cases can vary wildly in terms of how much time and work is necessary to address the issues and bring the case to a close. Family law attorneys typically charge by the hour because it is impossible to know how much time/work will be needed to address the issues that may arise in any given case.
Some attorneys may look at charging by the hour as an opportunity to drag things out and try to bump up their income from any case. But the best family law attorneys understand that a satisfied client who believes they received good representation at a fair price is much more valuable than a few extra hours’ worth of billable time.
These aren’t the only things a great family law attorney will (and won’t) do for you, but hopefully this list gives you a bit of an idea of what to expect. Be sure to check out our other articles here: https://www.dillielaw.com/blog/. If you think I may be a good fit for your case and you would like to set up a consultation with me feel free to contact me about your case at (720) 507-3105 or DillieLawOffice@gmail.com.