Questions to Ask A Family Law Attorney During A Consultation
Scheduling a consultation is the first step towards resolving a family law issue. A consultation is a friendly conversation. During the initial consultation, a HarmonyLaw.com family attorney will listen while you share details of your unique situation. The attorney may follow up with questions to get a better understanding of the case. But before you share details of why you need a family law attorney, we encourage you to begin the conversation by posing the following questions. By doing so, you will feel more confident in hiring one of our highly experienced, compassionate family law attorneys.
1. What is Your Experience with Cases Similar to Mine?
A family law attorney may claim on a website that they have many years of experience. But how much experience do they have handling cases similar to yours? For instance, suppose you’re trying to legally adopt a child. However, the prospective family law attorney’s experience mainly involves divorce cases. The lack of expertise instills doubt that the attorney will be the best one to represent you. This is not to say that if an attorney hasn’t handled hundreds of adoptions, they won’t be competent. But there’s no substitute for a proven track record.
Family law encompasses several different areas. At HarmonyLaw.com, you will be matched with an attorney with extensive experience in the niche you need assistance with.
2. How Do You Communicate with Clients?
“How long do you typically take to respond to inquiries?”
“What’s your preferred method of communication?”
“Will you contact me every time there’s a case update?”
Ask these questions so that there are no misunderstandings in the future. The attorney’s answers should instill confidence that their communication style matches your expectations.
3. What is Your Approach to My Case?
Remember, the initial consultation serves primarily as a “get-to-know-each-other” conversation. In other words, it’s like a legal first date. So, don’t expect an attorney to verbalize a foolproof, 10-step strategy. However, every family law matter requires a tailored approach, and the attorney should be able to at least discuss a general strategy. This is important because you’ll find out whether the attorney’s strategy will ultimately align with your objectives and the nature of your case. For instance, a personal injury attorney may adopt a shark strategy to receive maximum compensation for their client. However, in, say, a child custody matter, a more cooperative strategy may yield better results.
At HarmonyLaw.com, our approach to resolving family law matters combines compassion and cooperation without sacrificing a tireless work ethic to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients.
4. What Are Your Fees and How Are They Structured?
Suppose you are seeking a divorce with substantial marital assets to divide. You are told what the basic fee structure is, i.e. hourly rate. However, you are also given a vague statement that the fees can vary depending on the case's complexity. Several weeks later, you are hit with an invoice for additional fees for administrative tasks and court document filings. These extra fees are not pocket change; they have significantly exceeded your expectations. Do you see why it’s important to get a very detailed cost structure?
At HarmonyLaw.com every client receives a clear and comprehensive breakdown of all potential costs from the outset. This transparency in our fee structure prevents unexpected expenses. It builds trust, allowing you to plan financially and focus on what matters most—resolving your family law matters effectively and compassionately.
5. What Are the Possible Outcomes of My Case?
An attorney should never over-promise and under-deliver. Unfortunately, there are instances where attorneys might give their clients unreasonable expectations. For example, an attorney may guarantee a client that if they retain the attorney’s services, the attorney will help the client be awarded sole custody. Except for a case where one parent is clearly unfit to care for the child, sole custody is unlikely to be granted. Why, then, do attorneys offer unreasonable expectations? This can happen for various reasons, including a lack of experience, overconfidence, or merely for financial reasons. No attorney can predict the future. However, setting unrealistic expectations can lead to client dissatisfaction, legal complications, and damage to a firm’s reputation.
6. How Do You Handle Conflicts in Cases?
This question also falls under #3, but it’s worth reiterating. Especially in emotionally charged cases like custody or divorce, understanding the attorney’s conflict resolution skills and approach is crucial. Will the attorney’s negotiation tactics achieve an amicable settlement or outcome?
Questions To Ask A Family Law Attorney Before Getting Started
These are just some questions you should pose to a prospective attorney before signing a retainer agreement. If the prospective attorney seems defensive, arrogant or snarky, seek a consultation elsewhere. You should never be made to feel insecure during a consultation. In fact, the opposite is true. A prospective family law attorney should instill 100% confidence that they have the expertise and dedication to treat your case with the attention and compassion it deserves. Not only that, but the consultation should also ensure that the attorney’s approach will be compatible with your needs.
At HarmonyLaw.com, our team of dedicated, empathetic attorneys is here to ensure that every aspect of your case is handled with professional care. Contact us today to find an attorney who will be a true advocate for you and your family’s best interests.