So, you have decided to seek out a family lawyer, either for a divorce, legal separation, etc. In this article we are going to discuss some of the things you should look for when choosing your family lawyer. We will also discuss some of the most basic but essential things that need to be resolved.

One of the first things to look for in a family lawyer is their success rate. This is usually gauged by the number of cases they have handled and won in the court room. Normally their success rate can play a factor in proving their level of experience. The next thing to look at is their exact field of family law, are they going to be able to provide the specific service that you need? Can they help in any other fields should an issue come up, like child custody, or even any criminal issues if it is necessary?

After checking all these factors and settling on a family lawyer who suits your needs you should sit down with them and come up with a game plan. Your plan should cover such things as the following:

Financial Matters:

These include any bank accounts, stocks or bonds, and anything that is shared jointly by both parties.

Properties:

These include vehicles, land, houses, and even personal possessions such as pictures, jewelry, etc.

Debts:

If you are like most people you’re going to have some built up. It may be a house mortgage, a car loan or personal loans, etc. Usually if it is a debt that is jointly shared, the attorney will try to balance it out. Such one person taking a debt and the other taking separate debt to balance things out and satisfy both parties.

Life Insurance:

Something to consider is that most couples these days have life insurance and the spouse is the beneficiary, this will usually need to be resolved and beneficiaries changed.

Last but not least and also one of the most major issues that need to be resolved is financial support and child custody. This is an extremely complex matter as it is strictly regulated by local laws. This is where your family lawyer needs to excel. Having a proficient family lawyer will ensure that both parties are satisfied or at the least their client is satisfied with the agreement when it comes the the child custody and or financial support.

This is not usually an easy process but that is why the family lawyer is there. They will always do their best to try to create a smooth process and the least amount of stress for their client.

One last piece of advice is not use a friend as your lawyer– even if they are a BAR certified divorce or family lawyer. This usually causes serious issues with your friendship by putting that friend in an uncomfortable position, and can also lead to a conflict of interest as well. You need someone who is neutral and not associated with either parties involved in the case.