Family lawyers are professionals who can help you in multiple cases: divorce, separation, child custody, marital contracts, maintenance, alimony, compensatory alimony, adoption, grandparents’ rights with respect to children…
The list of situations is extensive, but they all have one thing in common: the sensitivity of these types of matters, intimately linked to the personal sphere.
In cases related to Family Law it is necessary, perhaps more than in any other case, to have a professional with whom we feel truly comfortable and in whom we can trust.
It is also essential to have the full attention of your lawyer and to know that he/she will be by your side during the whole process, informing you punctually about each step of the way.
If, in addition, your case has an international element, this is a factor that will reduce your list of candidates to a minimum: you should only keep someone who knows about private international law.
Therefore, in this post I give you some tips when choosing a lawyer for your family law case. If you need advice, do not hesitate to contact me, in my office we have extensive experience in cases such as applications for changes of residence of children, international child abduction, parenting plans, shared custody, cross-border visitation rights, etc..
How to choose a family lawyer?
Here are some tips to make it easier for you to find the right family lawyer for your case:
Looking for an experienced lawyer
There are situations in life in which it is not at all advisable to put yourself in the hands of an inexperienced lawyer: family law cases are very important in people’s lives, and the repercussions of incomplete advice can be negative.
The advice usually given in these cases is not to tempt fate or skimp on expenses, since what is at stake is very precious: your sentimental and patrimonial situation, or even the custody of your children.
Bad decisions can be much more expensive than a good family lawyer.
That is why we recommend you to put yourself in the hands of a professional with wide experience, who knows how things work and who is decisive.
Find an empathetic lawyer who will meet your needs.
Getting along with the professional who will be in charge of such a matter is key for everything to go well: you have to be able to trust the person you are contracting and know that he/she listens to you, understands you and thinks about what is best for you.
As if it were about yourself.
Unfortunately, this level of professionalism is not always the case.
Don’t accept less and don’t be shy about asking to be heard and that nothing important is left unsaid: make your specific goals for the process very clear and provide all the necessary information, making sure that your lawyer is involved.
In my professional practice I have encountered many clients who did not know how their case was going and even that their lawyer did not give them the draft of their lawsuit and the court notifications.
It is very important that the client is informed of their case.
Yes to specialization
Normally it is better to choose a lawyer specialized in the specific case you are dealing with, so their specialization can help you -and a lot- to get everything just the way you need.
However, in some cases it is necessary to deal with several disparate matters and, in these cases, it is important that your lawyer has a multidisciplinary support network that allows him to offer you a comprehensive solution.
It seems obvious, but we often forget the importance of specialized training: in Law -and even if we close the circle to Family Law exclusively-, it is impossible to know everything.
Choose a realistic lawyer
This is not the time to be assured that everything will work out if it most likely will not.
Your lawyer should be honest and realistic about your chances, without raising false expectations.
Situations as complex as those involved in family law deserve no less: a good lawyer will speak frankly about your chances of success in whatever you wish to achieve.
