Family Matters: How to Find the Best Family Lawyer

Lateet August 21, 2019

Did you know the divorce rates are at an all-time low of 39 percent?

Although divorce rates are lower than they have ever been, some couples still have to go through the tough decision of separating.

If you’re in a similar situation, you will need to hire a lawyer to help you during these times of change. Finding a great family attorney might seem difficult, but the process is not impossible.

In this article, we will share some tips to help you find the best family lawyer.

What Kind of Legal Services Do You Need?

Before you begin your search for a family lawyer, think about what type of services you need. Do you have a complex case? Then you need to hire a family lawyer with experience handling complex cases.

Those who have properties, assets, own a business, have debts, or children will benefit from hiring a big law firm lawyer with the resources necessary. Of course, all you need is a lawyer that has enough expertise even if it’s not at a large law firm.

However, if your marriage was short, with no kids involved, and no property you don’t need to hire a big law firm to handle a simple case. When you have a simple situation in your hands, hiring a solo attorney might be all you need.

Solo attorneys are often cheaper than large law firms and can handle a simple case.

Sort Out Your Budget

It doesn’t make sense to hire an expensive attorney when your budget doesn’t allow it.

The lawyer you hire not only has to have the expertise to handle your case, but it also has to fit your budget. Bankrupting yourself trying to pay for an attorney during the process will not do you any favors.

Finding the best attorney for your case that fits your budget and has the professional expertise to handle it is a delicate balance.

If you have a six-figure salary and can afford a $500 an hour attorney, you should do it if it seems right for you, especially if you have a lot of assets.

However, if you find yourself in a tough financial situation or living paycheck to paycheck, hiring an expensive lawyer can put you in a lot of debt.

The family lawyer you decide to hire needs to fit perfectly in your budget.

Ask Friends and Family

Ask we mentioned, you need to find a lawyer that fits your budget and legal needs. However, it might seem impossible to find a family lawyer that fits all of the boxes.

The best way to find out if a family attorney fits all of the boxes is to ask a family member or friend who has already worked with one.

If someone you know has gone through one of those situations, asking them to give you the name of their divorce attorney is a good place to get you started. Not to mention, you will also have a first-hand account of how the process works.

The lawyer might not be a good fit for you, but it will give you a good place to start. If you have ever worked with an attorney for another reason, you could also ask them to recommend you a family lawyer.

Perform Research on Your Own

Aside from getting a recommendation from a friend or family member, you can also do research on your own.

Start by performing a family law attorney search online. You can start by running a Google search in your area, but don’t limit your search options.

Many family attorneys also have a strong social media presence. Of course, some lawyers also choose old fashion advertising such as newspapers or ads on public transportation.

Make sure you search in as many places as you can before you settle for a family law lawyer.

Be Objective About the Search Results

While you perform research online, you will come across many attorneys that have flashy websites or profiles. You might be turned off by an outdated website as supposed to a more organized and user-friendly one.

Although a modern website makes a great first impression, you shouldn’t only focus on this aspect. Make sure you know which information to look for.

Start by taking a look at the lawyer’s credentials. For example, where did they go to school? How many years of experience do they have?

Find out as much relevant information as you can before you make up your mind about the attorney.

Read Reviews, but Take Them With a Grain of Salt

Once you have found a few potential family attorneys, read some online reviews.

Although you want to know what their overall rating is, you need to take is with a grain of salt. Remember, each experience is different for every person.

If one of the clients didn’t obtain the result they wanted, they might blame it on their attorney. Also, people who leave negative online reviews are the ones who tend to have negative experiences.

That being said, you should still look for positive and negative comments. As you look at the positives, learn about how the lawyer communicated with their clients or handled the case.

If there are negative comments, look for some red flags about the lawyer’s communication style or lack thereof.

Interview Some Options

Once you have combed through many of the lawyers in your area, it’s time to meet them in person.

Only meet with the attorneys that fit your budget and can handle your type of case.

It’s important you are ready to talk about the situation and be honest about it to get their input. Different lawyers have their ways of handling things, so you should give them as much information as possible.

Make sure you also come prepared with a list of questions so you don’t forget anything when you meet with them.