How do you go about finding a good family law attorney? Finding an attorney is no different than finding a doctor, or a nanny, or even choosing a university to attend. You wouldn’t hire a nanny that you don’t feel comfortable with, doesn’t listen to your directions, and has little to no experience to watch and care for your children, would you? You wouldn’t pick a university without doing a thorough investigation of all they have to offer, would you? Well, selecting a family law attorney is no different. Whether you are contemplating divorce or potentially have a parenting battle on your hands, you will want to seek a competent attorney who will listen to your needs and that has years of experience.
When you first start your search, a good way of finding a lawyer is to ask for a referral from within your personal network. Ask and see if a trusted family member, friend, or another working professional has a referral for you. Hopefully, this will help point you in the right direction. It is recommended, before you even meet with an attorney, that you go online and check the reviews for that attorney or law firm that you are considering speaking to. Keep in mind that attorneys cannot respond to these reviews and sometimes the author of the review may not have been the attorney’s own client. You should also be on the lookout to see if there are any cases against that attorney or firm for professional misconduct. Obviously that should raise a red flag and should be avoided. You should only seek out an attorney that exclusively handles family law cases because chances are your opponent will hire a lawyer that strictly practices family law and you do not want to find yourself at a disadvantage. After all, this is your life and your future and you don’t want to take mediocre legal advice from someone that doesn’t have experience handling family law cases.
When investigating attorneys, most firms and attorneys have a website and it is highly advantageous for you to review their website in detail and read the attorney’s mini-bios. This will tell you what the attorney’s background is, what they focus on, and how long they have been practicing that area of law. Seek an attorney that has experience in your area of needs, especially if you have a complicated case. For example, if your case is involved with the Department of Child and Family Service, also known as “DCFS”, you should seek an attorney that has years of experience helping family cases in that regard. If your marriage owns multiple businesses, properties, and financial assets you should seek an attorney that has handled high net-worth litigation cases and that will be able to recommend a good business evaluator to determine the business’ worth. You will want the best outcome of your case, your future, and your children’s future, that is why it is crucial to do your due diligence and make a thorough search before hiring your attorney. You will also want to seek a firm and/or an attorney that offers a free, no-obligation consultation.
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We are aware that everyone has been affected by the recent response to COVID-19 but we hope that you find some comfort in knowing that we are still operational and here to assist you. If you are a victim of domestic violence, we can assist you with obtaining an Order of Protection.
Whether you are a current client or if you are looking for family law or estate planning assistance, our team is here for you and will continue to be available to address your concerns.
To the extent possible, we will offer remote consultations and provide services from a distance.
You may message us here, email our office at info@sterkfamilylaw.com, or call 815-600-8950 and one of our team members will be able to assist you.
This is a legal advertisement from Sterk Family Law Group. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be construed as such. This article is for informational and educational purposes only.