What Does Family Law Encompass?

Family law covers a host of legal areas including those related to marriage and children. Common issues for a family law practice include divorce, child custody (along with visitation rights) and adoption. In other words, this legal area deals with all legal topics related to households. It encompasses the beginning of households and the division of them.

Common Issues Seen in Family Law Practices

• Child Custody
  The most common area dealt with by family lawyers is the matter of child custody. Decisions regarding custody can be particularly difficult during a divorce because the parents may be distrustful of each other at this point. In an effort to act in the child’s best interests, a court may assign legal and physical custody to one of the parents or it may decide that those rights should be shared. The result of a shared custody decision would have the child spending weekends, summers and alternate holidays with the parent who does not have custody. In such an arrangement, both parents would have an equal say in decisions that affect the child.
• Child Support
  Child support is another common part of family law since all parents are legally obligated to provide for their children. The amount to be paid will be calculated according to the laws of the state. Because custody and child support orders can be modified, family lawyers spend a lot of time representing their clients in proceedings to have the orders modified. The party requesting the modification will have to show the court that circumstances have changed in the period since the order was entered.
• Paternity
  Many family law cases also revolve around the establishment or disproving of paternity; however, this area has become less complicated with the advent of DNA testing.
• Abuse
  Family law also includes the prevention of abuse. Judges can assert jurisdiction in order to protect someone if an allegation of physical or emotional abuse has been made. The person making the allegation may be a child, a senior citizen or a spouse. In such a case, a judge will usually prevent further contact by issuing a restraining order.

When is it Necessary to Have Family Lawyer?
The need for an attorney is largely dependent on factors that are unique to your case.  For example, a couple may not need an attorney if they want to get married; however, the services of an attorney may be necessary if one party wants the other to sign a prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial agreement allows a couple to opt out of their state’s default laws.

Having the services of an experienced attorney who is knowledgeable about this area of law can be advantageous. Family attorneys know how find assets that the other party has attempted to hide as well as how to present arguments related to child support and visitation. If talks between the parties fail, a family lawyer can take the case to trial. The services of a family attorney are necessary in uncontested cases as well since an individual may inadvertently waive important rights.

What To Ask Your Divorce Attorney

Choosing the right attorney when you’re going through a divorce is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during the process. It’s certainly worth taking the time to find the right one.

You may want to visit several lawyers before deciding which one to hire. But how do you decide? Here are some questions to ask each attorney that can help you make your final choice.

What’s your experience?

It’s important to understand what kind of experience the lawyer has with divorces and whether they’ve handled cases like your own. Ask for details about specific divorces they’ve handled like yours without breaching client confidence. And it’s helpful to find out about his or her’s educational background – specifically college and law school.

How will I be charged?

Ask how you will be charged – is it hourly? Also, ask whether or not you’ll be charged for spending time with other lawyers, paralegals, and secretaries. At what rate? Are there other fees, costs, and expenses?

Will anyone else help with my case?

There may be others in the attorney’s office who also will work on your case. Ask if you can meet them.

Do you advocate mediation?

In mediation, you and your spouse meet with a neutral third party – a mediator – to resolve issues as amicably and in the most cost-effective way possible. Ask your lawyer if he or she is an advocate of mediation and if so, what mediators they recommend. Ask them if they (the attorney) will need to be there during the entire mediation process or will they serve as more of a consultant on an as-needed basis.

What’s your estimated total cost?

Some attorneys may resist answering this question because how long your case takes depends on its level of conflict. An honest attorney will probably answer that it’s difficult to estimate the costs of the divorce in advance. One who gives you an unrealistic low estimate may just be trying to get your business. You should also ask if there are ways you can keep the cost of your divorce down.

Will there be other costs?

There may be other costs involved with the case, such as for physicians, private investigators, forensic accountants, psychologists, etc. How will you be charged for them?

Do you specialize in divorces?

For many attorneys, divorces are just part of their practice. Ask whether your attorney specializes in divorces or not, and how long they have been doing divorce work.

What other services will I need?

Will there be other services connected with your divorce that you’ll need, such as deeds, trusts, an update will, bills of sale, etc.?

What do you see as the outcome?

Ask your lawyer, based on the information he or she has about your case, how they think a judge would rule on it. Are there facts that might make the ruling more in your favor?

How long will my case take?

Based on the available facts and his or her strategy, can your lawyer estimate how long it will take to resolve your case?

Do you have malpractice insurance?

Not all lawyers carry malpractice insurance, meaning if you got a judgment against them for poor work you might not be able to collect any money on the judgment.

Pensions and Divorce

The single most important aspect of a divorce, for a couple without children, is the allocation of assets and income. Because these assets must be divvied up according to law, and pensions fall under the umbrella of retirement accounts, you are entitled to a portion of your spouse’s retirement earnings.

What is the Breakdown of Pension Funds?

As with other assets, the breakdown is dependent on the length of your marriage; generally, only the part of your (or your spouse’s) pension that accrued during the term of your marriage are judged during the divorce. This varies somewhat by state; but the general principles are the same: for shorter marriages, less pension money – and retirement accounts in general – are subject to division in a court of law.

For states that mandate division of pension between former spouses, your ex-spouse does not need to be actually retired yet in order for you to be entitled to a portion of the account.

Depending on the specifics of family law in the San Francisco Bay Area, if there’s a situation in which your spouse was not actually eligible for a pension before the dissolution of the marriage, then you are probably not entitled to the retirement account – but, of course, you should speak with an attorney to be certain. Similarly, if the money in the pension account built up before or after your marriage, then you may not have any legal claim to the fund.

With this said, there are some states that do not mandate any pension benefits to a divorcing spouse, while others automatically award half. A very good guideline for how you can expect your pension to be divvied up is the property division laws endemic to your particular state; it is best to get in touch with a local family law attorney for specifics.

Pension and Divorce as Pertains to Child Support

Although you may consider child support and pension payments as separate – and they are, for the most part – the amount you receive for child support can affect how much you receive from your spouse’s pension fund. This varies from state to state; generally, child support derives from calculations involving the parents’ income. In California, there’s a variety of other considerations:

• how much either spouse spends on children outside of their dissolved marriage
• the amount of time (percentage) that each parent spends with the child
• health care payments and premiums
• taxes and union dues, etc

These are subtracted from the net income to determine child support payments, which in turn influences the portion of pension fund payments to which you are entitled. For example, let’s say your ex-spouse is the one responsible for child support payments. If your ex-spouse’s pension payments accrued during your marriage and your ex-spouse starts collecting, then she may actually have to pay more in child support as a result of the increase in income. If alternatively, you are the one who gets pension payments, then the child support you receive from your ex-spouse can be reduced.

Contact a Family Law Attorney

As you can see, pension funds are treated as other joint assets; but only dependent on the period during which the money accrues. As a retirement account, they can have an effect on child support payments; reducing them if you are the beneficiary of both the pension fund and child support payments, or increasing them if you pay child support and also have the pension fund. For detailed information, it is best you speak with a San Francisco family law attorney.

Tips for Choosing the Best Divorce Lawyer for You

Going through a divorce is rarely easy. In fact, sometimes it can be downright messy. Because there’s a chance that emotions are running high, you’ll want to work with a divorce lawyer that you can trust and that can look out for your best interests. You don’t need a lawyer that can lend you an ear (that’s what professional therapists are for), but you do want a lawyer that can help you focus on what’s important and help guide you through the divorce process.

Of course, some lawyers are better at this than others. The following are a few tips to keep in mind to help you choose the divorce lawyer that’s right for you:

1. Look into the lawyer’s reputation

It’s not too difficult to get an idea of a divorce lawyer’s reputation by simply doing a search online. Unless the attorney you’re looking into has only just started practicing law, there should be some reviews posted by their clients. Websites like Avvo.com are built specifically for finding lawyers and contain lots of client reviews. You can also simply go on to a site like Yelp.com to look for local lawyer reviews.

When you do look at online reviews, make sure to look at both good and bad reviews. Every business tends to have one or two negative reviews even if they are a generally reputable company – the same holds true for lawyers.

You should also check your state bar association. The state bar association keeps public records about any complaints that were filed against lawyers working in the state and of any disciplinary actions that were taken against them.

2. Ask for referrals

A good way to get the name of a reputable divorce attorney is by asking friends, family members or coworkers that you know have gone through the divorce process if they can recommend anyone to you.

3. Ask about their specific experience

First of all, you’ll want to work with a lawyer that deals specifically in divorce cases. Someone that’s more of a tax lawyer isn’t going to do you much good. Find out how many matrimonial cases they’ve handled and how many of those cases ended up going to trial. Divorce lawyers that go to trial often may not be the best negotiators.

Find out how many of their cases involved business valuations, support, custody, large financial settlements and more. While an inexperienced lawyer that’s focusing on divorce law may end up being very good at their job, you should look for someone with some experience behind them – you don’t want to take any risks when it comes to your divorce.

4. Compare the different fees

Make sure they are up front about their billing rates. Some lawyers will charge a retainer as well, which is an upfront sum of money. Find out if their trial fees are different than their hourly rate. Make sure that the billing arrangements are set out in writing.

5. Keep an eye out for red flags

When interviewing a divorce lawyer, keep your eye out for certain red flags. You won’t want to trust a lawyer that speaks about their clients’ cases (they should be confidential) when trying to convince you to hire them. It’s not a good sign if they are distracted by calls or emails during your interview either. Additionally, be wary of lawyers who are disrespectful of the other divorce attorneys you may be interviewing.

Hiring a good divorce attorney is extremely important if you want the process to go smoothly and in your favor. Use these tips to help choose the right divorce lawyer.

The 411 on Pre-Marital Legal Counseling

Since marriage affects virtually every aspect of your life, deciding to tie the knot is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Unfortunately, many California couples are unaware of how marriage will affect their legal rights and responsibilities, and even property ownership, and they never pursue premarital legal counseling before they take their vows.

What is Premarital Legal Counseling?

Premarital legal counseling is designed to help couples thoroughly understand how their legal union may affect them throughout their marriage as well as in the event of a divorce.

These services provide a wealth of information about:

• Community property, separate property, and how property issues are handled.
• The possible impact on a business.
• How issues of child support and spousal support are determined.
• How each spouse’s actions during the marriage might affect his or her rights and responsibilities down the road in ways that may not be expected.

Premarital legal counseling encourages couples to openly communicate about their goals and expectations so they can effectively plan and take the action necessary to build a strong foundation together. While nobody marries with the expectation of divorce, it is estimated that approximately 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. According to a recent study in the Journal of Family Psychology, however, premarital counseling (on a broader scale) reduces a couple’s chance for divorce by 31 percent.

Who Should Seek Premarital Legal Counseling?

Although it is common for couples who are interested in entering into a prenuptial agreement to seek legal counseling, encouraging such an agreement is certainly not the goal. While a prenuptial agreement may be an excellent solution for some couples, it might be merely an unnecessary expense for others. In order to determine the course of action that is most satisfactory for each unique situation, it is recommended that all couples who are planning to marry seek premarital legal counseling. Obtaining this counseling will enable couples to better anticipate possible future problems and reduce the risk for conflict ahead of time.

Premarital legal counseling is especially recommended for couples when:

• There are substantial assets involved.
• A business or home is owned by one of the spouses prior to the marriage.
• Significant debt exists.
• There are pre-existing legal matters.

The laws surrounding divorce, future responsibilities, and the division of assets and debts are very complex in California. Premarital legal counseling can help couples better understand how to ensure that their assets and debts are divided according to their wishes and future responsibilities are planned for in the event of a divorce, or even the death of one of the spouses. When legal arrangements are not made prior to the event (death or divorce), and the divorcing couple cannot come to an agreement, the courts will usually have discretion on how future responsibilities, assets and debts are divided.

All too frequently, couples wait until right before the wedding to seek premarital legal counseling, and while this is better than avoiding legal advice altogether, the emotional stress and added pressures of the upcoming wedding itself can interfere with the couple’s judgement. Experts recommend that couples seek premarital legal counseling approximately six months to one year before they plan to tie the knot so that they have time to adequately evaluate the information provided and make effective decisions both spouses feel comfortable with.

5 Common Traits of a Cheating Spouse

The idea that your partner could be cheating on you is probably enough to make you stop dead in your tracks and feel short of breath. Nobody wants to be cheated on, and if you’re in a relationship, you probably don’t want to confront your partner or have a very difficult discussion either.

If you suspect your partner might be cheating though, there are some common issues that you can look out for. Check for these five common signs of a cheating spouse if you’re worried that your partner may be having an affair.

1. Less Interest in Home Life

When a spouse is cheating, becoming less interested in the things you normally enjoyed at home is common. For example, cooking a romantic dinner together, watching a movie or even playing with your children may be of less interest to somebody who is cheating.

In many cases, cheating partners will spend less time doing these things and do them with less enthusiasm. Often, a cheating partner will prefer alone time where they once enjoyed the company of their spouse or family.

2. Moody Behavior

Cheating brings up a lot of different emotions in different people. For some, cheating can create guilt and anxiety, leading them to be quite moody, even with the partner they are cheating on.

Of course, moody behavior can also be a sign of stress at work or general unhappiness with their professional or home life. Still, increased negativity and moody behavior can be a sign that they resent the relationship and the guilt they’re forced to feel because they’re cheating.

This guilt is often taken out on the spouse who is the victim of cheating.

3. Lack of Affection

Maintaining affection in two relationships is very difficult, and for most people, it can be hard to attend to their spouse when wrapped up in an affair. If your partner doesn’t have much interest in sex, this should be a major tip-off, especially if your sex life was normal before.

Even smaller means of affection like holding hands or saying I love you often suffer. If your partner seems withdrawn and like they don’t want your affection either, a relationship outside of the home could be responsible.

4. Your Partner is Defensive

When you’re in a long-term relationship it’s pretty normal to ask your spouse about their day, what they had for lunch, what their plans for the weekend are, and a whole host of other questions. Most people don’t think of this as an invasion of privacy – at least they don’t if they’re not hiding something.

A partner that’s having an affair outside of the relationship may become defensive though, even when you’re only asking them reasonable, normal questions. A spouse that refuses to answer or can’t answer when you ask them about an event or upcoming plans may also be hiding or something or leaving room to see somebody outside of the relationship.

5. Your Spouse is Rarely Home

It might seem obvious, but if your spouse is rarely around the house, there’s a fair chance that they could be having a relationship other than yours. A busy work schedule or uptick in time spent on a hobby could be to blame, but if your spouse can’t account for time away from home, it could be because of cheating.

Ambivalence or inability to tell you where they were when away from the house is also a common sign of cheating. Believe it or not, many people don’t come up with elaborate stories to cover their tracks when cheating on their spouse.

Top 4 Reasons a Parent Loses a Custody Battle

With California and dozens of other states moving to no-fault divorce states, the most fraught issue is shifting to who gets child custody and how visitation rights are awarded. Custody is usually decided by weighing a number of factors – examples listed below – and how each parent can provide for the child’s well-being in the future. One of the largest factors in this respect is which of the two parents will provide the most stable home environment for the child moving forward in life.

Generally, the primary caregiver tends to have an advantage for winning custody of younger children (under 12) whereas a higher weighting is given to which parent would provide the most continuity in terms of cultural, social and educational opportunities for an older adolescent.

Custody and Best Interests of the Child 

Obviously the best thing would be to amicably settle on custody outside of the courtroom, but that can’t also be accomplished. In lieu of that, most courts consider the best interests of the child as the single most important factor behind which parent gets custody.

Numerous factors go into what’s in the best interest of the child, and whichever parent can meet most or all of these factors usually winds up winning custody:

• Each parent’s lifestyle (is the child exposed to second-hand smoking?)
• The emotional connection between the child and his or her parent(s)
• How the child would be affected, positively or negatively, by a sudden change in the status quo (e.g., moving in with another parent)
• The child’s age, current emotional well-being, education and physical well-being
• The quality of the child’s current education and how it might be affected by a change in custody

As you can see, neither the father nor mother is inherently advantaged when it comes to the courts deciding which of the two should be awarded custody following a divorce.

Top 4 Custody Battle Mistakes 

It used to be that mothers were favored because they were thought to provide more nurturing to children in their tender years, but now the process is more objective. Fathers can still win custody, in other words, but it depends on avoiding a few stereotypical custody battle mistakes.

• Taking too much control

When the court sees one parent vindictively wanting custody not to nurture the best interests of the child but, rather, to get back or exert control on the other parent post-divorce, it usually doesn’t end well for that parent.

• Unemployed or works odd hours

If one parent’s lifestyle involves a lot of travel, working when the child would be awake (graveyard shift), or rejecting viable job opportunities, then the court might award custody to the more financial stable parent.

• Trying to represent yourself

Some parents feel that a plea straight from the heart is all that they need to win custody, yet a parent who chooses to represent himself or herself in court often underestimates how much personal emotional involvement is still present.

• Hiring Specialty Lawyers

Remember that the best interests of the child is usually the main, if not sole, determiner of who gets custody; hiring a “niche” lawyer that works solely with moms or dads (e.g., dad’s rights attorney) usually doesn’t pan out well because it misses the big picture.

Different Kinds of Custody 

There are still a few types of custody that the courts could award, including: physical custody, physical joint custody (e..g, when parents live nearby to one another), sole custody and legal custody (entitling one parent to more decision making on behalf of the child). Remember to always put the child’s best interests first no matter what.

How NOT to Handle Your Divorce

Divorce is never easy for any reason. No matter how much two people may want to separate themselves legally from one another, there is a right way, and many wrong ways, to do it. If you’ve been contemplating divorce, there’s no shame in proceeding. Before you start down that path, however, bear in mind these examples of how not to handle your impending divorce.

Don’t Go It Alone

Many times, when a couple is in agreement that the marriage should come to an end, they look for a quick resolution and don’t want to get lawyers or the courts. That seems like an easy solution on its face. Nothing could be further from the truth, however. Any mistake during the process could result not in a quick end, but protracted legal proceedings.

Make The Right Choice

Another symptom of just trying to get past the divorce is being hasty in the attorney selection process. Taking your time to find the right representation for you is critical. If your criteria are that they offer a free consultation, or that a friend used them for their divorce, you might not end up getting exactly what you want or need. If there are mitigating circumstances to the divorce, like domestic violence or minor children, you’ll want someone who has worked with those factors in the past.

Divorce Can Be Paralyzing

When decision has been made, it can set off an avalanche of stressful situations. The most important thing is to be proactive, and meet each of the challenges head-on. Friendships lost, families being fractured and loss of time with your children are just a few of the stressors that can affect those dealing with divorce. Simply ignoring the issues is not the proper way to deal with them.

Get It In Writing

Especially when a divorce begins amicably, there are a number of informal, verbal agreements. Seeking to keep the courts out of your divorce may seem admirable, but verbal agreements often lack the details and contingencies necessary. Certain verbal agreements could actually cause legal issues down the road as well, with things like child custody.

Keep Emotions In Check

Depending on the divorce, there may be very charged emotions surrounding the dissolution of your marriage. Using the legal process to get closure is no means to an end, however. Though both can be expensive, some time with a good therapist is typically healthier than filing another court motion fueled by emotion. It’s also usually cheaper.

Take Inventory

When people are ready to move on from a marriage that is ending, they sometimes make the mistake of trying to move on to quickly, seeking to leave their old life in the past. Taking time to take stock of your life to that point, and realizing where things went wrong can be huge dividends for your future self, however.

Have A Plan

Know going in to the proceedings what your goals are. While it is important to heed the advice of your legal counsel, it’s also important that your voice is heard. The decisions you make during your divorce are ones you will need to live with for the rest of your life.

Consider The Needs Of All

When choosing to go their separate ways, some couples put blinders on and only consider what they need. Look outside yourself, however, and consider what it will take for everyone to leave in the best condition possible. Especially consider what is best for the kids.

No divorce is ever easy, but taking the time to make the right choices can lead to a successful result.

The Importance of a Prenup

 

The laws and regulations that govern human life are astonishingly complex. Not even a lawyer can know them all. Even your marriage is not spared by the myriad of rules and restrictions.  Prenuptial agreement, or prenup, is among the most notable legal components in the institution of marriage.

Considered a leading romance killer, a prenup is viewed by many as division of assets with the wealthier partner seeking protection. This cannot be further from the truth. In fact, a prenuptial agreement is among the most important things you need in your marriage, as explained today.

What Is A Prenup?

Simply put, a prenup is a contract between two individuals who are about to get married. It outlines how wealth will be distributed in case of separation. In the past, it was a preserve of the rich and famous. Today, however, you don’t have to be rich or a celebrity to warrant a prenuptial agreement.

You should also realize that a prenup accomplishes more than outlining what happens in the event of a divorce. It can as well come in handy when you want to:

• Safeguard your properties from your partner’s creditors.
• Define property rights for estate planning purposes in order to safeguard your children’s inheritance.
• Protect business partners and guarantee the continuity of your business.
• Compensate a partner who is quitting employment to stay at home.
• Spell out how you fulfill financial obligations from a previous marriage, such as alimony and child support.

Is a Prenup Really Necessary?

Obviously, it is not an easy thing to think about divorce, while at the same time you are looking forward to a lifelong commitment. It actually seems self-defeating. The fact is, however, divorce is a reality to many couples. Thus, a prenup shouldn’t be an option, but a necessity. Here’s why:

A Prenup Can Significantly Reduce the Financial and Emotional Impact of A Divorce

The sad reality is that if you don’t have a prenuptial agreement, all your properties will be distributed to you and your spouse by the state. The children of your partner from their previous marriage may end up benefiting from you hard-earned money at the expense of your own children. Even worse, your wealth may go to your spouse’s partner just because he/she married you ex-wife/husband.

Not Talking  Over Financial Issues Can Doom A Marriage

With a written agreement, each person’s obligations to the other are made clear. This ensures that you’re protected from stressful situations down the road. It becomes easier to focus on the other aspects of your marriage if the financial part is dealt with in advance.

Other than defining each party’s obligations and how you are going to handle issues going forward as a written agreement also outlines expectations to avoid any ambiguity down the road.

With this, you will be able to move forward with the assurance that your financial commitments to each other are settled. This eliminates one of the most common causes of marriage stress from the picture.

The prenup has never been an easy or amusing topic for couples to bring up. Nonetheless, while once a preserve for the rich, prenuptial agreements is fast becoming popular among couples who don’t have vast properties and assets at stake.

This is largely because prenups have now been embraced as the best way for couples to define their assets in order to avoid messy break-ups and divorces. It may be a not-so-comfortable topic to broach, but it is a great idea for you and your partner who can be advantageous even if a divorce never arises.

5 Things To Consider Before Hiring A Family Law Attorney

Hiring a family law attorney is something you may be considering for one of several reasons, such as your need for legal counsel regarding:

• Marriage or prenuptial/postnuptial agreements
• Adoption
• Divorce or annulment
• A child support dispute
• Guardianship
• Child custody or visitation matters
• Paternity questions
• Alimony or spousal support
• Domestic violence problems
• Restraining orders
• Juvenile delinquency and more

With so many areas open to lawyers practicing family law, many will specialize in only a limited number. Many will concentrate on divorce and divorce-related issues such division of property, alimony, child custody and child support. Others may limit their focus to areas dealing with minors, adoption law or some other specialty in which they’re interested and want to excel. A family law attorney who appears to be a “jack of all trades” may, in fact, not excel in any specific areas.

What to Consider Before Hiring a Lawyer

When looking for a qualified family attorney in the San Francisco Bay area you have literally hundreds of choices from which to select. Here are several things to consider before making your decision on whom to hire.

1. Visit the official website for the California State Bar to check an attorney’s Certificate of Standing. This will let you know your chosen attorney’s bar number, date of admission to the bar, current status, and whether or not the individual has been disciplined by the Bar. You want to hire someone with experience, not someone just graduated from law school, even though the latter may charge less initially, you may end up paying a great deal more due to inexperienced representation.

2. Interview at least three different attorneys before deciding on hiring one. Ask if they charge a flat fee for the services you require or if there’s an hourly rate and find out what those costs are and how much money you should be prepared to spend altogether. During your initial interviews, you want to get a good feel for the personality of the attorney you’re considering to determine if this is someone with whom you feel comfortable working. They should be personable, professional, compassionate and engender a feeling of trust. If you’re at all uncomfortable with any aspect of what occurs during the initial interview you’re probably best off moving on to another candidate.

3. Most attorneys will have a comprehensive Internet website that can provide you with important information regarding experience, specialized areas of focus, qualifications and even testimonials from current or previous clients. Check any available social media profiles to help complete an informal background check of professional affiliations and ongoing status in any professional organizations.

4. Determine if your prospective lawyer expects your particular case to be settled out of court or if it’s expected to go into litigation. A qualified candidate may be able to save you time and money by dispute resolution that doesn’t require going to court.

5. Find out from your prospective family law attorney if he or she foresees any complications cropping up with your case and what their availability will be to respond to your telephone calls or email communications. Find out if the work related to your case will be handled in-house or outsourced to others.

Do Your Homework

A situation that necessitates your seeking legal counsel may be stressful, and a good attorney should be able to help alleviate these feelings and reassure you that you’re in good hands. Talking to friends and family who may have prior experience dealing with an attorney on your list can be a big help. Use every resource you can muster in making the correct hiring decision.