How to Find a Good Kid Custody Attorney

Updated on September 17, 2020

Child custody hearing paperwork

Kirby Hamilton / Getty Images

Choosing a proficient child custody attorney can be difficult, particularly because of the many highly emotional problems that emerge during child custody proceedings. Parents looking to hire a child custody attorney should utilise the following resources to place experienced, qualified candidates.

References

The best resource for parents who are seeking information on a good child custody attorney is to seek references from other people. Important references to obtain on child custody attorneys include:

  • Asking friends and family members
  • Seeking advice from court clerks at the courtroom office
  • Inquiring of other parents, strangers included, who currently accept cases at the child support function
  • The country bar clan can laissez passer on referrals
  • Depending on your state, some courts may maintain a network of attorneys

Interview

It'south of import for single parents to interview a potential child custody attorney before hiring them. Some questions to ask are surrounding:

  • Personality and Style - A unmarried parent wants to ensure that an chaser's personality and style matches his or her ain. It doesn't accept to be exactly the aforementioned, but a single parent should observe the attorney to be approachable, as there volition be a lot of questions forth the way.
  • Experience with Your Blazon of Case - A unmarried parent should choose an attorney that has experience treatment and winning his or her type of case. A single parent should also sympathise how many hours information technology may take for their case to exist decided.
  • Fee Structure - A single parent should enquire into whether the attorney charges on the footing of a retainer or on a per hour basis.
  • Free Consultation - A unmarried parent wants to know whether a child custody attorney is willing to provide a free consultation. A free consultation will give a parent an idea of whether he or she will be able to work with the attorney

Pro Bono

If a single parent cannot beget a paid chaser, he or she may qualify for a court-appointed attorney. A courtroom-appointed attorney will serve to correspond the single parent, in the same manner as a paid attorney.

The county family unit court will maintain a network of pro bono attorneys to assist with child custody cases.

Resource to Investigate the Attorney'southward Reputation

At that place are several resources that a parent may use to check an attorney'south reputation, including:

  • Checking the attorney directory in your state. The chaser directory volition let a parent know if an attorney is in skilful continuing with the state bar or if their attorney'due south license has been suspended and if so, the reasons for suspension status. Most states crave attorneys to reveal that information to a prospective customer. Additionally, an attorney cannot do police in states where their license has been suspended.
  • Request around town. If single parents alive in a smaller community, there'due south a expert chance that an attorney's reputation volition be well known in that item community. Parents can inquire virtually an attorney with someone else or multiple people in the community.

Fire a Child Custody Chaser Who Isn't Meeting Your Needs

Don't worry about making a mistake. If the understanding between y'all and your attorney is no longer effective or does non come across your needs, release the attorney from his or her duties and brainstorm a new search for a new child custody chaser.

For more information about finding adept attorneys, parents should refer to additional resource on child custody lawyers or a parent can speak with a member of their State Bar Clan.

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more nearly how nosotros fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  • National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. Choosing and Working with a Lawyer. Updated May 28, 2019.

By Debrina Washington
Debrina Washington is a New York-based family law attorney and writer, who runs her own virtual practice to assist single parents with legal issues.

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