How to Select a Child Custody Lawyer
Divorce proceedings can be an extremely stressful time, and adding a child custody battle to the mix only adds stress to the situation. To achieve a desirable end result, it is extremely important to choose the right child custody lawyer. A good child custody lawyer can not only help you win your custody battle, but they can also help guide you through the situation with as little additional angst as possible.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Contact your state's bar association and ask for a list of child custody lawyers. The bar association may also be able to provide you with a recommended child custody lawyer in your area.
-
2
Contact child custody lawyers in your area to set up an interview. You may be asked to provide some details on your case before scheduling the interview. Most lawyers do not charge a fee for an interview of this nature, but ask if there is any associated cost.
-
-
3
Prepare a list of questions to ask during the interview. Important questions to ask include the lawyer's previous child custody experience, as well as his history of winning and losing cases. Other questions include whether or not the lawyer is familiar with your family court judge, or if he has represented both fathers and mothers before. Finally, don't hesitate to ask specific questions related to your case.
-
4
Conduct the interviews with the potential custody lawyers. Ask all of your prepared questions and take notes of their answers. Provide as much detail on your case as possible. Take notes of other details, including the lawyer's personality, your first impression and generalities of the practice. Ask each prospective lawyer for a list of references, including previous clients.
-
5
Contact references for each lawyer and ask them about their experiences. Did the lawyer fail to keep any promises? How involved was the parent during the proceedings? Would they hire the lawyer again to represent them in a child custody case? Most lawyers will use references who will speak highly of them, so do not make your decision based solely on these answers.
-
6
Review all of the information on each prospective lawyer and make a final decision. Contact the chosen lawyer to tell him you would like to hire him to represent you.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit young lawyer image by Alexey Stiop from Fotolia.com
