With about 50% of all marriages ending in divorce, family lawyers are in high demand. Dealing with a family lawyer is something nobody wants to do. It can be stressful, expensive, and a sensitive situation, especially when children are involved.
Even if you and the other party are separating on good terms and can agree on a property settlement, it could still be necessary to get a family lawyer involved to make sure everything is done in accordance with relevant legislation. If not, there could be unexpected liabilities if things like taxes and assets are not properly dealt with.
Why get a lawyer?
There is rarely any real “winner” after a property settlement. The goal of a family lawyer is not to “win” big for their client. As much as you might want to get revenge against the other party out of spite or any legitimate reason a lawyer that promises to do as much damage as possible is only going to cost you money and potentially cause problems in the future. The family lawyers’ goal should be to limit the damage and make sure both parties have been treated fairly to avoid any future conflict between them. This is most important when there are children involved.
How to choose a lawyer
The family lawyer best for you and your case should be chosen like you are hiring them to work for your company. You can approach them like you are conducting an interview. Get to know their background and experience, if they have taken on cases like yours, how much courtroom experience they have, and how they try to approach a case like yours. These are only a few of the things you should find out about a family lawyer.
On a personal level, you should be comfortable talking to them. You will have to discuss personal matters with them at some point, and the more comfortable you are talking with them the more effective they will be in representing you. If you feel intimidated by the lawyer, you might withhold important information that they could use to help you in your situation.