Chances are, if you are a single parent—or on the road to becoming a single parent, you will at some point need a good attorney. But how do you find the right one, let alone one who specializes in working with divorced, separated and single parent families?
First, the type of attorney that you want is what is known as a “Family Law” attorney. This is someone who specializes in working with family legal issues like legal separation, divorce, custody arrangements, etc. Even relatively small towns and cities should have a decent selection of family law attorneys and you can ask for referrals from your friends and family, or do some legwork and research on your own.
Interview the attorney(s) prior to making your choice. If the attorney won’t give you a free initial consultation, find out as much information as you can from a phone call or e-mail early on. Here are some of the things you will want to know: How will you be charged? Will it be by the hour or flat fee? Will you need to pay a retainer or pay anything in advance or up front or will the payment be due after the services have been rendered? You will also want to find out who will be working on your case? Will it be the attorney or members of his or her staff? What sort of time commitment can you expect for the fee you will be paying and how much time does the attorney think it will take to resolve your case or take care of the documents you need?
Since you will be working with this person on very emotional and personal matters, it really should be someone you feel comfortable with and whom you can trust. Do not hesitate to shop around and do your homework. You may feel pressured to find someone quick, but it is better to take the time to get a good family law attorney than to end up with an unsatisfactory experience.
Keep Your Legal Stuff Up-to-Date