Choosing an Attorney
You have come to the realization that you have issues to confront within your family life -- issues that may involve your most important relationships, and that may have a tremendous bearing on both your personal happiness and your financial well-being. What you now need to decide is whether to address these issues call for the assistance of an attorney -- and if so, where to turn for that legal advice.
We would hope, frankly, that people who find themselves contemplating engaging the services of a family law firm would instead be able to work out their problems on their own. There is little reason for a lawyer to become involved if a husband and wife, for example, are committed to working their way through a rough patch in their marriage and to moving forward together. Perhaps in such an instance, marital or spiritual counseling can help move the reconciliation process along.
There are other instances, however, when a relationship may have frayed past the breaking point, or when specific legal steps are called for to secure a spouse's rights. These are situations, in other words, when good intentions and fond hopes are not likely to suffice. When the bonds of trust and affection that underlie a healthy marriage can no longer be counted upon to ensure that partners will treat each other fairly and considerately, a lawyer's services may be essential.
That is by no means to say that a "good" law firm necessarily is one that is eager to lock the opposing party in a legal stranglehold. Montgomery Family Law has as a fundamental premise that it is interested in resolution over confrontation in protecting its clients' interests in the most efficient manner possible. That may well mean a strategy aimed at a negotiated settlement rather than at carrying the matter to trial. Settling disputes through negotiation, mediation or arbitration can typically save clients much time and expense. We aim to resolve problems in the most cost-efficient fashion, and undergoing the rigors of the courtroom is something we normally choose to undertake only as a last resort.
We believe that this approach is particularly well-suited to coping with the stressful personal situations that can arise in the course of marriage and child-rearing. As laden as those situations are with powerful emotions, they can lead people into attorneys' offices when they are vulnerable to impulse, driven by anger, indignation, sorrow or fear. Our firm has the experience, perspective and high professional standards that allow us to recognize when a client is vulnerable in that fashion and to steer him or her toward a rational course -- one in which emotion is not the compelling factor.
At the same time, our experience enables us to discern those other instances when a client must avail himself or herself of the law's full range of rights and protections. When there is no acceptable alternative, we have the expertise to secure favorable outcomes in an adversarial setting. We know how to fight when, regrettably, there is no choice.
Should you decide you need a family law attorney, there are a couple key steps to be taken and questions to be answered to ensure you make the right choice. These are as follows...
Finding a Family Lawyer
- Contact your county or state bar association to get a referral list.
- Ask family and friends for recommendations.
- Use directories like Lawyers.com and FindLaw.com. Not only are bios listed, but also client reviews.
Choosing a Family Lawyer
- Ask for a consultation.
- Find out the fees.
- Is he/she familiar with divorce and family law in your state?
- How experienced is he/she with your particular situation. (E.g. If court will be involved, do they have courtroom experience?)
- Will there be someone to contact after hours in case of emergencies?
- Request references.
Overall, how comfortable were you with the experience of meeting your potential divorce lawyer? If it was not good, move on. You are going to be spending a lot of time with both your attorney and their team. Thus, finding the right fit is essential to making your issue's resolution as comfortable as possible.
