Child custody is a matter that has given many couples headache especially if things are falling apart in the family. There is an option of divorce if all the attempts to come to agreements don’t yield any fruits. It could be easier to part ways through a legal process. However, handling such cases can be difficult especially if children are involved because they have the right to be taken care of. Therefore, through a legal process, you will have to hire a child custody lawyer to handle the case in court. Note that finding a good child custody lawyer is not a walk in the park because there are several options. As a first-timer, there is a higher probability you don’t know the things you should prioritize when hiring one. Below are key factors worthy of consideration when hiring a child custody lawyer.
First, you should put the location of the lawyer you are planning to hire into consideration. Just like many cases, child custody will require that you meet your lawyer often. With that in mind, it goes without mentioning that it is advantageous that you find a locally-based lawyer. If they are a few miles away from your home, you will enjoy meeting them either to discuss the case or if you have a concern that requires interpersonal communication. Besides, a local lawyer knows the litigation process and everything about the local laws so you can be guaranteed proper representation. It is also worth noting that since you will not travel over a long distance, you won’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on things like gas if you are a car owner.
The other factor you should put into consideration when hiring a child custody attorney is the level of experience. Handling any legal case requires proper experience in the field. Although it is not wrong to engage the young professionals in the field, at the end of the day, you want someone you can count on to provide a great representation. By now you must have someone in mind. You can check out their level of experience by investigating the number of years they have been handling such cases. Also, ask them to give you a brief history of the kind of cases they have handled before to see how successful they have been.
Availability is another significant element you should have in mind when choosing a child custody lawyer. As mentioned earlier, if you will be able to meet them easily, you will be sure to get adequate information regarding the progress of your case. Therefore, avoid at all costs a lawyer who has a tight schedule because, in the long run, they can disappoint you. It is also important to note that a child custody lawyer who has a lot of work to handle at the same time may not have enough time to dedicate to your case. If you follow the guide above, you will be sure to find the right child custody lawyer you can trust.