When you’re looking for a family law attorney, it’s important to know what questions to ask them before you retain their services. Since hiring an attorney and fighting for custody is no simple matter, it’s important for you to be informed and ensure a good professional match in order to ensure the best possible outcome. Here are five questions you should ask your family law attorney.
- How much experience do you and your team have?
It’s important for a family law attorney to have extended experience in cases similar to yours. This increases the chances that they can win your case. Ask them which clients they’ve represented that resemble your concerns. if you’re trying to assert paternity, do they have experience in proving and protecting paternal rights? If there are issues involving adoption or artificial insemination, do they have proof of success in that specific area? Divorce and custody law is complex, so experience ensures the best potential outcome.
- What are my chances for getting custody of my child?
While your family law attorney can’t guarantee that you will be granted custody of your child, they can predict likely outcomes based on a consultation with you. In this case, it’s important to give your attorney as much pertinent information as possible and not to lie or omit information. There may be lingering feelings around your spouse that drives you to want custody of your child over them, but it isn’t about that. It’s about what parent will provide the best well-being and environmental support for the child that will help them become a functioning member of society.
- How is custody decided in Arizona courts?
Since custody cases and laws vary by state, it’s important to understand how custody is decided in Arizona. In Arizona, it’s a first priority of the court to presume that a custody case should get joint custody, as it’s been shown that a child having both parents in their life drastically improves their well-being. But in some cases, that is not what is most beneficial for the child. If you are looking to secure sole custody, the court needs solid proof that this would better benefit the child’s well-being. The court also makes all the decisions based on evidence presented by both sides.
- What do I need to give you in order to help you best represent my case?
Since custody cases are not without great detail, it’s important that you are able to give your attorney the things they will need in order to help you. The more prepared you are, the better your chance of winning your case. Your attorney may require you to hand over documents, records, evidence, and other things in order to build your case, and the sooner you can prepare them and provide it, the better off you will be. Some of these things, such as your child’s personal records, may take time to access, so it’s important to know ahead of time so that you can get a head start.
- What is your price?
This one may seem like a no brainer, but it’s a very important question. Different family attorneys will have different fees, and divorce and custody cases can become financially draining, so getting the most bang for your buck is important.
If you have any questions regarding getting started with a family law attorney, Simon Law Group is here to answer them and assist you. For more information, contact us today.
