No marriage comes with a guarantee of success. The hard reality is that, sometimes, marriages do fail. Irrespective of how much in love you were at the time you got married, circumstances and people can change with time, only to make you realize that you no longer want to be associated with each other.
While you may be having a tough time coming to terms with the reality of such a situation, you know that the road ahead might involve legal intervention to finalize the process of separation. Sometimes, this process becomes difficult due to the demands placed by a domineering spouse.
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Going through a difficult divorce can show you a tough time and the last thing you need is more stress and frustration from dealing with an overbearing spouse. Hiring a family law attorney can be extremely beneficial in such cases.
This post lists a few reasons why you should hire a family law attorney to represent you.
1. Skill and Experience
When your case goes to the court, several issues will be discussed and needed to be settled. A few such issues include spousal support, child custody, child support, and division of property. Negotiating the terms of a divorce often entails both the parties pitting these issues against one another to achieve a favorable outcome for themselves.
An experienced family law attorney will be adept at handling divorce cases and can determine from the beginning as to what course of action would work best in proceeding with your divorce. He will also be able to guide you on the steps to take to ensure that you meet your goals.
An experienced attorney will be able to tackle all the documentation involved easily. Knowing how to work through the maze of paperwork is important to the quick resolution of your case.
2. Objective Opinions
When it comes to divorce cases, emotions are bound to run high. However, you cannot let your feelings dominate the divorce proceedings and lose your objectivity. This is where your lawyer comes into the picture.
As a third party to your divorce, your lawyer can be more objective about the case than you, especially when dealing with contentious issues. Family law attorneys are trained to handle cases objectively, which means they are less likely to act in the heat of the moment. Such a legal counsel will evaluate the circumstances surrounding your case in a neutral manner, and provide you with straightforward and honest advice.
3. Legal Knowledge
Lawyers spend several years acquiring the expertise needed to resolve legal difficulties. Most of them maintain their high standards by staying updated of all the current family laws in the state they practice. It is, therefore, important to pick a lawyer in the same state as you. If you’re a resident of Chicago, you will do well to look for a family law lawyer in Chicago, who would be aware of the latest developments in this field.
A knowledgeable lawyer will also see you through the tremendous amounts of paperwork, multiple court appearances and legal red tape easily and accurately. This will help you avoid several mistakes, which could prove to be costly otherwise.
4. Assertive Representation
A good family law attorney will work diligently towards protecting your best interests and your family’s future. While some divorce matters get resolved without much distress, others may require assertive representation to protect your interests, rights, and family’s wellbeing.
Your lawyer can be your best ally in such situations and can safeguard and defend your interests, which will help you move on to the next stage of life.
Why Hire a Family Law Expert?
Hiring an expert in the field of family law will go a long way in bringing you peace of mind. An attorney who specializes in family law or divorce cases will be most suited to handling your case as he would be familiar with the attorney representing your soon-to-be-ex, as well as the judge assigned to your case. He would know their strengths, weakness and tendencies, and will be able to negotiate accordingly.
Apart from that, he will also be equipped with the most relevant knowledge, and be up-to-date on the changes and the trends in this field.
So, how do you know if you’re hiring the right lawyer?
Mentioned ahead are a few concerns you should raise and inquire about with your attorney before finalizing him. The answers he provides should help you decide whether or not to go ahead with him.
- The number of years he has practiced family law
- His method of approaching a new case
- The percentage of cases he settles
- His method of settling cases
- His fees and expenses. What retainer needs to be paid upfront?
- Refund of the unused retainer
- The specific attorney at the law firm who will work on your case
Once you’re done with meeting the lawyer, ask yourself the following questions:
- Were you comfortable while talking to the attorney about your personal life?
- Did the attorney make you feel intimidated?
- Did he give you a good listening, or was he harping about past glories?
- Are you convinced that this attorney would handle your case empirically? He needs to have a proper game plan in place, one which is tailored to your situation.
- Did the attorney give you the facts (even unpleasant ones), or did he paint a rosy picture and assure you of a win? No one can assure a victory. If a lawyer does so, there’s a high probability he’s taking you for a ride.
Conclusion
While you may be aiming for a peaceful divorce, certain factors involved may be making it an emotionally-charged process. This is only natural. It is important, however, to put your personal feelings aside and let an experienced family law attorney guide you through the divorce. Know that you’re not going to be alone in your legal crisis, and with his assistance you will get through this difficult phase with your interests and dignity unscathed.