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Are you considering a family law case soon? If so, then there are several considerations likely on your mind. It is not easy to balance all the competing interests relevant to a family law case. On top of that, you also have activities and interests in your personal life which are relevant. Taken together, these are subjects that require a fair bit of time and consideration. Being able to determine the best course to take related to your family law case is very important.
Having an experienced attorney by your side to walk you through the case can be a critical element to your success. While having an attorney is not required in a family law case it can certainly help. An attorney knows how to balance all the competing issues in your case. On top of that, a family law attorney has the skills and knowledge you need to help provide you with a real leg up when it comes to planning and conducting the case.
In today’s blog post from the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, we are going to discuss how to properly research the right attorney for your family law case. This is not a decision you should rush into or make without careful consideration. Fortunately for you, the attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan have served many fellow Texans in their family law cases. Therefore, we have the skill and knowledge to be able to help you identify what areas need to be focused on most acutely.
Clearly define your legal issue and goals
Before you set out to file a family law case you need to determine what sort of case it is you need to file. This may sound silly at first glance. However, there are people every day in Texas who file the wrong kind of family law case. This costs time and money. The last thing you want to do is waste time or precious resources within a family law case. Therefore, consider meeting with an experienced family law attorney. Learning more about the law and the specific kind of case you need to file should be step #1 when it comes to preparing.
Next, once you have figured out the type of family law case which needs to be filed you should think about what your goals are. In a child custody case do you want to be named as primary conservator? Is there a particular right or duty that you need to have emphasized on behalf of your child? Have you thought about child support and how to calculate that figure? These are just a handful of the types of questions that are relevant in a child custody case. Divorces, modification, and enforcement cases all have different criteria and possible goals associated with each.
Once you have determined which goals are most important for you and your family it is time to develop a strategy to achieve those goals. Admittedly, this exercise is made easier when you have an experienced attorney by your side. Simply put, you may not have any experience in the world of Texas family law. As a result, it can be difficult to sit and come up with a game plan for your case. If this is where you find yourself then you need not worry. Being able to reach out to an experienced attorney can help you take the next step in planning your case.
Look for attorneys who specialize in family law
Now that you have identified a key benefit to retaining an attorney for your case you next need to consider what sort of attorney you should hire. As far as attorneys are concerned there are two main groups. The first group of attorneys are criminal defense attorneys and prosecutors. These are lawyers who focus their practice of the law on criminal matters. Although there may be contentious or even criminal subjects involved in the family law case you are focused on a criminal attorney would not be best suited to help you in a family court setting.
The other broad group of attorneys is civil attorneys. Civil cases are essentially any type of legal matter that is not criminal. Within Texas civil cases there are several subcategories for your consideration. Family law represents one of the largest subsections of civil law. You need only go to the civil courthouse in your county any day of the week to see that a large proportion of those civil cases are family cases.
This should tell you that the type of attorney best suited to represent you in your family law case is an attorney who focuses on family law. Not only that, having an attorney who has successfully represented families or individuals previously would be for the best. That level of focus and experience puts you in a tremendous position. Not only do family law attorneys place their focus on child custody and divorce cases, but they know how to help people in your specific situation.
Begin researching potential attorneys
Performing a basic amount of research into the right attorney for you is very important. This does not mean that you need to spend a week on the Internet looking up attorneys. However, it does mean that you should focus your search on a handful of attorneys whose focus is on family law. From there, you can look at the website for the attorney to gauge your level of comfort with him or her. We all have been in a situation where we have performed some research on another person only to find that their online presence is lacking.
Going online is the easiest way to acquire knowledge about attorneys in your area. The Internet allows you to look up the attorney and their website. Many attorneys, such as those with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, have a presence on YouTube. Our attorneys are easy to find. Looking up our office on YouTube is easy. From there, you can gain a better perspective as to the type of experience our attorneys have and the way our attorneys are likely to interact with you in person.
You may also choose to talk with family members, friends, or coworkers about their own experiences in Texas family law. Yeah certainly, it is helpful when you receive a favorable review of an attorney that you are considering from a person that you trust. A friend or family member vouching for the credibility of an attorney means more than a dozen strangers sang positive things on the internet. You can feel free to weigh the contributions of your friends, family, and the Internet however you see fit.
Verify the credentials and experience of the attorney
Before attempting to reach out to the attorney you should verify that attorney’s level of experience. Every attorney has to start somewhere as far as their career is concerned. No lawyer becomes licensed and immediately has decades of experience practicing law. That is not how things work. However, you would need to determine what level of experience is best for you and your family. Balancing experience as a factor against cost may be necessary. As a result, you may end up choosing a certain lawyer both for their experience and for budgetary reasons.
An attorney may advertise themselves as a family lawyer on the Internet. However, you need to verify that he Has the experience that he claims to have on his website. There are several different websites that house client reviews for attorneys. Be sure to look up those reviews and read through them. See if the attorney has favorable outcomes listed in their reviews. Certainly, you want to see that people are talking about that attorney serving them in the type of case that you have going forward.
The attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan have a level of experience that you need to accomplish whatever goals you have in the setting of a family law case. We understand that there is no substitute for an experienced attorney who has the best interests of their client in mind. We work tirelessly to improve our skills so that we can better represent our clients both inside and outside the courtroom. Contact us today to see how we can best serve your family moving forward.
Pay attention to how the attorney communicates
A major part of the attorney-client relationship has to do with communication. As you begin to meet with attorneys you should pay close attention to how that attorney communicates. Just because attorneys talk in a courtroom does not mean that they are skilled at interpersonal communication. We all know that there are people in our lives who are extremely intelligent yet struggle with basic, interpersonal, and relational communication. Before selecting an attorney to represent you reach out to schedule a consultation.
Arrange consultations to meet with an attorney
Consultations are informal meetings with a potential attorney. For example, the attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan offer free of charge consultations with our attorneys six days a week. This means that you can meet with one of our attorneys in person, over the phone, or by video. We have offices in all the major metropolitan areas of Texas. As a result, no matter where you live in the state there is an attorney from our office close to you. We would welcome the opportunity to spend some time with you talking about your case.
Consultations are a great opportunity to put to the test the concepts that you were just reading about. If you’re a potential attorney struggles to connect with and communicate with you then it would be difficult to imagine that attorney being effective at speaking to a judge or jury. This may not always be the case. However, overall, you must have a comfort level with the attorney. If you are unable to connect with the attorney, then he can be the most skilled lawyer in the world, but you will never feel comfortable.
If possible, it is beneficial to meet with an attorney in person. We all know what it is like to meet someone for the first time. Whether it is a first date or a consultation with a lawyer there is a lot to be gained from in-person interactions. All of the online reviews and photos cannot do a face-to-face conversation any justice. Therefore, seek out opportunities to meet with the attorney in person. That way you can learn what the attorney is all about and how you feel about him or her.
Understanding the attorney’s fee structure
Family law attorneys bill by the hour. Most attorneys will have an hourly rate that corresponds with the work performed in your case. For every 15 minutes worked the attorney will track time in their various systems. You are expected to pay for the services and time performed by the attorney. This is different than how personal injury attorneys, for example, bill their clients. You need to be able to have a solid understanding of how family law attorneys bill to be comfortable with hiring an attorney.
At consultations with our attorneys, the Law Office of Bryan Fagan provides potential clients with a sample contract. We have staff available whose job it is to help you read through a sample contract and learn more about how our attorneys will bill you if you choose to sign up as a client with our office. We know that there are many different options out there when it comes to hiring an attorney. It is not always true that the most expensive or experienced attorney is right for you and your family. However, we ask you to consider a range of factors when you hire a lawyer for your case.
Make sure to ask questions about subjects you do not understand. A major mistake many people make when hiring an attorney is not to ask sufficient questions. Not asking questions almost guarantees some degree of dissatisfaction during a family law case. The more you understand the money aspects of a case the greater your overall satisfaction. The last thing you want to do is find yourself trying to justify the cost of a family law case when you do not understand the details.
Choose the attorney who you believe has the experience you need
When all is said and done, the best attorney for your case is the one you feel has the right level of communication skills and experience that you need to succeed. Without a doubt, families like yours have a limited amount of time to make decisions about hiring an attorney. As a result, it can feel like you have insufficient time to make up your mind. Additionally, there is a seemingly never-ending supply of attorneys on the Internet who seem capable of handling your family law case.
Deciding on an attorney to represent you is an important task you have ahead of you. All the factors we listed today are important for you to consider. However, only you know those factors which are most important to you and your family. As you begin down the road towards selecting an attorney you can think more critically about these factors and how they will impact your family moving forward. The difference between a successful and unsuccessful outcome may depend upon the attorney you hire.
Remember to consider the experience level of the attorney as well as their focus on the law. A family law attorney with years of experience who communicates well is the best of all worlds. You need to take the time to talk to the attorney to determine your comfort level with him or her.
Final thoughts on properly researching the right attorney for your family law case
When it comes to hiring an attorney, it is a process like any other. The more effort you put into your search for an attorney the better the outcome for you and your family. There are no shortcuts you can take when it comes to hiring an attorney. Putting in sufficient time and effort leads to more favorable outcomes. With so much at stake in your family law case you can rest assured that an attorney can make a major difference.
Thank you for joining us today here on the blog for the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. Again, we offer free-of-charge consultation six days a week in person, over the phone, and via video. We are glad to provide you with this information here on our blog. Please continue to search our website for relevant information about Texas family law and our attorneys.
Questions about the material contained in today’s blog post? Contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan
The attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan offer free of charge consultations six days a week in person, over the phone, and via video. These consultations are a great way for you to learn more about the world of Texas family law. Before signing a document or negotiating on a subject you do not know well, contact our office. We look forward to the opportunity of serving you during an important part of your life. The Law Office of Bryan Fagan is on your side.
