The cases related to family are very sensitive in nature, the reason being the solomosstorms.com involvement of close ones, especially children (if any). If you are seeking justice for yourself in any of the cases related to family law, the first and most important thing to be taken care of is to get yourself a reputed and experienced family court lawyer. If your case is quite simple, you can settle for a family lawyer who will charge a nominal fee. On the other hand, if your case is complex and requires a lot of skill and planning, experience and dexterity must be your priority rather than the fee.
A Good Lawyer Makes Your Case Simpler!
It is always safe to work with a known lawyer recommended by your family members, close friends, or people who have dealt with the lawyer before. If you cannot manage to find an established lawyer, you must search for one online to find one for yourself. Make sure to verify the legitimacy and credibility of the attorney you choose. The first interview with your legal representative would give you an idea of how well he/she may be able to handle and present your case and whether you are comfortable with him/her. On your first visit, you must bring all important personal and financial documents with you.
Try to appoint a specialist!
This will help your legal representative evaluate your case accordingly. Moreover, you could also get an idea as to how strong your chances are of winning. An important factor to consider here is that you must select an attorney who specialises in your particular case.This enhances the possibility of presenting your case strongly. Therefore, if you are planning to file for divorce, you must employ a divorce lawyer who specialises in these cases. In matters of child custody, it is always better for the couple to discuss in advance the custody arrangements and financial details as well.
Another point to be kept in mind is that it is always better to select a lawyer who is from the same state as you so that he is familiar with the family laws of that particular state. You must also take into account the fee charged by the family court lawyer you choose. Your legal representative can give you a rough estimate of the fee that would be charged depending on your case. This will also help you arrange the finances in advance.
Are You Sure You Want To Represent Yourself?
The first thing that you have to decide is whether you really want to represent yourself. Given the complexities of the laws governing these issues, it is always recommended that you hire a family court lawyer to handle your case.The only reason some people choose not to hire them is that they charge a very high fee. However, there are still some people who choose to represent themselves in court just because they feel that they understand their situation better than a lawyer can. If you are representing yourself, it is said in legal terms that you are doing it “pro se,” i.e., for yourself.
Organizing Your Case
Organizing your case is the next step. You are strongly recommended to do thorough research about your situation before you appear in the family court. There are several online resources available that can help you with your research work. Write down everything that comes to your mind. Make sure that you are not forgetting any important issues pertaining to your case. For example, if it is a case of child support, you must know beforehand what types of information the court may ask you to provide, what is the maximum age at which child support is prohibited in your state, and how to calculate that maximum age. You don’t have to know everything—just having a good understanding of the basics will be enough.
Collect Proof And Evidence
The next thing that you have to do is to obtain proof. Always remember that “proof” is the name of the legal game that is played in the family court. Regardless of how honest you are, just stating the facts in a simple way is not going to help you win the trust of the judge. The court needs proof and evidence. So, do not forget to bring some documentary proof in support of your claims. For example, in the child support case, the documentary proof may include proof of income and expenses, such as receipts, bills, pay stubs, 1099’s, W-2 forms, and tax return forms. Keep your objective in your mind (what you want to achieve) while you are trying to gather proof.
You must also be well aware of the procedure pertaining to filing your petition in the family court. You can consult the clerk at the courthouse to get accurate information about the same. These clerks may also help you fill out the petition forms. However, service can be a bit tricky. Therefore, make sure that you are well aware of the rules pertaining to the same in your state.
