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what does a family law attorney do

What Does a Family Law Attorney Do?

There are so many jobs out there that it can be hard to keep it all straight. This is true in the law field, as there are a variety of titles for professionals who practice law. For now, let’s specifically take a look at family law attorneys and what they do!

What is an Attorney?

To give you some background, we will start with the definition of an attorney. According to The Free Dictionary, an attorney is “a person admitted to practice law.”

What is the Difference Between an Attorney and a Lawyer?

It is important to know the difference between attorneys and lawyers. They are frequently used interchangeably, but there are some dissimilarities between the two. According to Legal Match, a lawyer is anyone who has been through law school.

An attorney is anyone who has been through law school and passed the bar exam. These are the people who can then practice law as a profession.

What is Family Law?

Family law involves the legal issues that can surround a family.

What Types of Family Law Cases Are There?

  • Marriage Dissolution
  • Paternity and Child Custody
  • Protection Orders Against Domestic Violence 
  • Emancipation and Approval of Underage Marriages
  • Name Changes
  • Guardianship
  • Termination of a Parental Rights and Adoptions
  • Juvenile Matters
  • Emancipation and Approval of Underage Marriages

This list is from the Family Law Self-Help Center.

Divorce-related lawsuits make up a large portion of family law cases. These include divorce, child support, custody, and more.

Where Does a Family Law Attorney Come in?

As explained by Cody at Cogswell & Associates, a family law attorney in Fishers (Indiana), Family Law Attorneys work to represent their clients. The client’s legal requests generally fall into the categories listed above. In divorce situations, the attorney often represents one of the two partners. The other partner will get their own attorney. The attorneys then divide up property and determine custody.

Family law attorneys are able to make court orders for child custody battles. This is true for child support as well.

When Should You Hire an Attorney?

According to Working Mother, hiring an attorney should be at the top of your list when the divorce plans begin to surface. Sometimes people will try to work things out on their own. While this sounds like a nice idea, it might actually make things worse. It’s best to get an attorney involved immediately. This way they can learn the most about the situation. They will also help you to work your way through the process as peacefully as possible.

What Should You Consider When You’re Hiring a Family Law Attorney?

Finding the right attorney can make or break your case. It’s important to do some research on the attorney ahead of time. Look for online reviews of attorneys in your area. There are websites specifically made for the purpose of finding and reviewing lawyers or attorneys. Avvo is a great resource! You may also want to ask around if you know a friend or family member has used a family law attorney in the past.

In addition to choosing a quality attorney based on word of mouth or reviews, you will want to take a look at their experience. Don’t turn down an attorney too quickly if they don’t have a lot of experience. Just make sure you’re aware of their past successes and failures. This is a big deal to you and your family, so try to do it right!

Communication is an important factor of any professional you work with. You want to be able to contact an attorney at any point that questions arise. Talk to them about their availability for contact and what methods they use. Not all individuals check their email inboxes as often as they should. Some may not respond to work-related messages when they are out of the office. Maybe they are just busy on weekends and in the evenings. Simply ask the attorney how you can communicate with them. Get a good idea of their response time.

Keep in mind that you will be paying for the services provided to you by the attorney. This is not always as affordable as we would like it to be. Shop around, compare attorneys, and look for a good value. Though you may be tempted to hire an expensive attorney for better success with the case, this isn’t always necessary. Just be sure to do your research before it’s too late!

Finally, make sure that the attorney is supportive. Try to look at their characteristics to see if they will teach you anything along the way. It’s their job to do the dirty work for you. You should still be made aware of certain terminology and rules.

In conclusion, a family law attorney is a practicing lawyer who works on family issues. These cases can include a variety of different problems. Some of most popular ones are divorce and custody related. It’s important to choose a trustworthy attorney. Avvo happens to be an excellent resource for finding an attorney.

The family law category is a large one. Many types of cases fall into it, so there are plenty of practicing lawyers who are available to help!