You’ve reached a point now where you understand there is a problem in your family. That family could relate to your marriage, a child custody issue, or both. When you encounter problems like this then you need to decide about the next step to take. Many times, people in your shoes will intuitively understand the direction they need to take in their circumstances. However, the issue becomes having the courage to come forward and actively do something about the problem. If this is where you are in the process, then today’s blog post from the Law Office of Bryan Fagan is for you.
Today we will discuss whether it is time for you to contact a family law attorney. Family law cases come in all shapes and sizes. The decision about whether to proceed depends on several factors that are specific to your life. If you even suspect that proceeding under a family law case is necessary at this time, please consider the information contained in today’s blog. We hope that you will be guided by the material to toke better decisions for yourself and your family.
Interested in reaching out to an experienced group of family law attorneys? Then please contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. We offer free-of-charge consultations six days a week. These blog posts are helpful in that we can provide you with information that can help you decide about moving forward in your circumstances.
What can contact a family law attorney do for you?
Before we discuss anything specific about contacting an experienced family law attorney, we need to determine what family law attorneys do. To begin with, family law attorneys work on behalf of individuals and families in Texas. Not all attorneys are created equal. By this, we mean that family law attorneys focus their practice on issues related to Texas family law. While you can find many attorneys who would be willing to help you in your family law case only a select few focus their practice on this area of the law.
Examples of family law cases include divorce, child custody, modifications, and enforcement of court orders. Additional areas of Texas family law include grandparent-rights cases and CPS defense. In short, family law is a broad category of legal cases that can impact just about any area of your life. For that reason, you must have a plan before filing a family law case. Working with an experienced Texas family law attorney provides you with several advantages.
Contacting an experienced family law attorney with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan is simple. Our attorneys can be reached throughout the week for free of charge consultations. These consultations have no strings attached and allow you to ask questions. From there, our attorney will provide you with information about your specific circumstances. That is an invaluable advantage to have. Determining what direction to take your case matters. Contacting a family law attorney is the first step toward developing a better understanding of your case.
What are the signs that contacting a family law attorney is right for you?
When it comes to determining the right time to contact a family law attorney there are several factors to consider. The first factor to look at would be how much consideration you’ve given to all your options. Have you thought about all the possible options that are available to solve the problem in your life? That may not mean contacting an attorney. Rather, that may mean reaching out to a marriage and family counselor to schedule an appointment there. Or it could simply mean reaching out to discuss with your spouse. These are all options that you should consider even before contacting an attorney.
However, contacting a family law attorney becomes more appropriate once you have exhausted all other resources. The better your options the more successful you will be. It is when you have very few options that circumstances generally go for the worse. If you have an issue with your child or with your spouse but you have not thought through your options, then you should do this first. Once you have considered your options then decide about contacting a family law attorney.
Another reason why you should consider reaching out to an attorney with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan Is your level of comfort with the subject matter of your case. In some divorce cases, for example, you may be able to proceed without representation. However, these types of cases are few and far between. In most family law cases, you must have an attorney representing you. When you have more questions than answers and time is of the essence then contact a family law attorney.
A hypothetical situation illustrating when to contact a family law attorney
Reaching out to an experienced Texas family law attorney makes sense in several circumstances. However, let’s draw upon a hypothetical situation that may mirror your own. Suppose that you and your husband have been married for 10 years. Recently, the marriage has not been as strong as in prior years. Stress and anxiety have caused several issues in the marriage.
After trying to work through those problems together it has become abundantly clear that a divorce is necessary. Your husband approaches you with an idea for split custody of the children. He was not clear about what he meant by split custody. However, you came to find out that it would mean children living with each of you on an equal basis.
Given that his plan is to live across the city from you this can present a range of logistical challenges. Namely, your children are involved in extracurricular activities. A split custody circumstance like this during the week would seriously disrupt their ability to participate in those activities.
Since you have identified a serious issue with the plan of your husband you decide to seek assistance in combatting something you believe not to be in the best interests of your children. This is where an experienced attorney with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan comes into play. A family law attorney knows how to consider your specific positions and then provide you with advice that is geared toward helping you achieve your goals. Knowing the Texas family code is important. However, it is critical to be able to apply the law to your case. This is where an attorney can excel and truly help you in whatever your circumstances are.
How do you select the right attorney for your case?
This may seem like a complex question. After all, there is no shortage of attorneys who will tell you that they can represent you in a divorce. Specifically, attorneys who have fancy advertisements and even fancier office locations. How can you possibly expect to select the right attorney for your case? Are there tips or tricks that you can use to know which attorney is right for you?
Several different pieces of advice can be given when it comes to selecting the right name for your family law case. Contacting an experienced family law attorney is the most straightforward piece of advice that we can give you. Keep in mind that in a family law case, you need a family law attorney. This is not a matter that you can expect to have just any attorney handle on your behalf. Rather, when you are dealing with complex and emotional topics there is no substitute for the trusted hand of a family law attorney.
We at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan understand the concerns that you have entering a case. Our office has been fortunate to represent clients just like you for many years. In that time, we have come to understand that there is no substitute for an attorney who knows the ins and outs of a family law case.
However, you should not simply take our word for it. Rather, contacting our office for a free of charge consultation is the next logical step for you to take. What is a consultation with the family law attorney and how does it work? Here is more information that can be helpful to you and your family.
What is a consultation with a family law attorney?
Making a major decision like hiring an attorney should not be one that you take lightly. Rather, you need to be able to proceed with confidence that you are making the correct decision for your family. Relying only upon advertisements and things you read online is not a good way to approach your case. Rather, you should go the extra mile and seek an opportunity to meet with an attorney in person. This is where you can gain a better understanding of that attorney and what their law practice is all about. Otherwise, you are relying upon the opinions of others and judgments from material on the Internet.
A consultation with a family law attorney does not mean you are committing to hiring that lawyer. Rather, you are merely trying to find out more. Think about it as you would if you were buying a new vehicle. Very few of us read reviews online and then immediately make a purchase. Likely, you would want to go to the dealership and ask to take the vehicle for a ride. It doesn’t matter if another person says that the vehicle has all the qualities that you like. It is up to you to make that determination for yourself.
A consultation also puts you in a position where you can understand more about what it means to work with an attorney. Several times a potential client of the Law Office of Bryan Fagan has met with one of our attorneys. Our attorney will quickly come to find out that the potential client has a radically different view of the attorney-client relationship then the reality of the situation.
What is the attorney-client relationship mean in a family law case?
The attorney-client relationship is a critical component to your family law case. A successful attorney-client relationship means that you have someone on your team throughout your case. That attorney will act as an advocate in the courtroom. He or she will negotiate on your behalf with the opposing party. Most importantly from the perspective of the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, your attorney educates you on the law. Having the heart of a teacher is a key component to the representation offered by the Law Office of Bryan Fagan.
Notice that we did not say the attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan make decisions for our clients. Contrary to what many people believe, attorneys are not there to make decisions for a client. Rather, the attorney is there to help a client better navigate the complex areas of a case. This means providing the client with knowledge which allows him or her to make good decisions for themselves.
Ultimately, you want to be in a position where you are the one making decisions in your case. It is your life, after all. This is not a circumstance where you want your attorney to have the final say on anything. Rather, it is much preferable for you to be informed by the attorney and empowered to make your own decisions. This will give you ownership of the case and reinforce the idea that ultimate authority lies with you.
Making a decision about hiring a family law attorney means considering their fees
In truth, the decision to hire an attorney may come down to, at least in part, the fees charged by that attorney. Briefly, family law attorneys bill by the hour. This means that for each quarter-hour worked, your attorney will bill you. An attorney, their staff, and any junior attorney working on your case all bill at different hourly rates. As a result, the more work that must be performed in your case, the more expensive it becomes.
This places a premium on having knowledge of how much your attorney charges by the hour. Talk with your attorney in a consultation about how billing works at their office. Attorneys handle billing in sometimes unique ways. Make sure that you are crystal clear on the expectations about how frequently you are billed. If you need to have so much money in your account. That should also be a topic of discussion.
For example, the attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan provide potential clients with a sample contract. This discusses in detail our billing practices. Also included are the hourly billing rates for each of our attorneys and staff members. We seek to provide you with a complete overview of the billing process. That way you can make well-informed and educated decisions geared toward the best interests of your family.
Final thoughts on the right time to contact a family law attorney
Deciding on whether to contact a family law attorney depends upon the specific circumstances you face. Make no mistake, this is a subject that will have implications for years to come. Choosing not to move forward with the family law case may be a sensible decision for you. Rushing into something as important as a family law case is not advisable. Legitimately, now may not be the right time for you to become involved in a family law case.
On the other hand, unnecessarily delaying a family law case can have negative impacts on your life moving forward. Not only that but there are also struggles involved with family law cases as far as making sure that they are looked after to the best of your ability. Remember that the best interests of your children are at stake in this circumstance. If the best interests of your children are better preserved by contacting a family law attorney, then that is where your motivation should be. Ignoring this instinct serves no one for the better.
The attorneys with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan thank you for choosing to spend part of your day with us today. Our attorneys offer free-of-charge consultations in a comfortable environment. This means that you will not be pressured to sign a contract or to commit yourself to anything. We provide potential clients with helpful information based on their specific circumstances. From there, you can make decisions that are geared toward the best interests of your family.
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.
Evan Hochschild was raised in Houston, TX and graduated from Cypress Creek High School. He went on to graduate from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX with an undergraduate degree in Political Science. While in college, Evan was a four-year letterman on the Cross Country team.
Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and uncle before him, Evan attended law school after he completed in his undergraduate studies. He graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law and has practiced in a variety of areas in the law- including family law.
Mr. Hochschild is guided by principles which place the interests of clients first. Additionally, Evan seeks to provide information and support for his clients with the heart of a teacher.
Evan and his wife have four small children together. He enjoys afternoons out and about with his family, teaching Sunday school at his church and exercising. A veteran attorney of fourteen years, Mr. Hochschild excels in communicating complex ideas in family law simply and directly.