There are many reasons why people need to hire someone to assist with family issues. Regardless, of your motivation, here is what you need to know before making a final hiring decision.
Personality is Important
These types of cases can be incredibly sensitive, and emotions are high. Make sure that you work with a lawyer you feel comfortable discussing personal topics with. The initial consultation is important because it gives you the opportunity to judge an attorney’s experience and whether or not you feel comfortable with their personality and style overall.
Hire a Family Lawyer with Experience
Instead of looking for a general attorney – hire an expert. When you work with someone that focusses on family law, you gain the benefit of their experience and any resources that they have. This can help your case to go more smoothly and prevent hiccups along the way. The more skilled your attorney is, the better the outcome of your case will be. There are no guarantees in the law but when you start with an expert; your chances of success are greatly increased.
Learn About their Practice
Not every family lawyer goes to court. Some focus on preparing agreements, negotiations, and dealing with issues outside of the courtroom. This is important and can prevent future legal challenges down the road. However, if you feel that your case may go to trial, look for an attorney that is as comfortable in the courtroom as they are behind a desk.
Negotiating Skills Are Key
Many family law cases can be settled outside of court when an expert negotiator is involved. If you would rather settle things quietly, find an attorney that is willing to negotiate on your behalf and confident in their ability to do so. Even with divorce cases, settling outside of court can be better because you actually maintain more control over the results. Once a case goes to trial, it is in the hands of the judge, and the outcome is completely unpredictable. When you negotiate you at least know what the options on the table are.
Agree to a Fee Structure
Make sure you find out how an attorney charges and what they anticipate the total charges to be. While this is not an exact science, it will help you to prepare and budget for any payments that need to be made.
When looking for a family lawyer, call The Law Office of Paul R. Berko. Mr. Berko is an expert at family law and will help you to achieve the results you want for your case or transaction. He listens to clients first; in order to better understand what their goals are then offers clear legal advice and suggests steps to follow. To learn more, call (516) 746-4211.
