Hire a lawyer who knows custody and who you can afford.
If there is one thing I have learned in the past 40 years of business, it’s you should never be your own lawyer. We should realize that court rules are complex, state specific, and filled with pitfalls for the unwary. Then there is the laws of custody.
An good attorney will tell you that nothing warms their heart more than an unrepresented party. It is like being a pro baseball player and going up to bat with the local 12 year old little league team. You can pretty much expect to knock the ball out of the park.
Now I know someone reading this is convinced that they can represent themselves. The problem is, even if you have figured out enough law and procedure, you’ll never be able to decouple yourself emotionally from the fight. Do you want a surgeon that gets angry, sad, or depressed while he operates on your body? A good lawyer is not emotionally attached to your situation, and can help you better understand what is possible and realistic. This doesn’t mean they have to be cold or unsympathetic, but it does mean they must and can maintain a professional detachment.
As for cost, it varies widely. A good lawyer is rarely free, but costs can vary greatly. In fact most people don’t know what to pay for an attorney, and so they assume what they pay is normal. It might or might not be. A highly experienced attorney with years of practice might charge a lot more for a particular case, but might not be able to be any more successful than a novice attorney, if the facts and law are very certain in a case.
You should also stay in budget. If you overpay for your resources, you might not be able to sustain the custody litigation. You don’t want to burn all of your legal war chest to quickly, so be careful about spending too much too soon. You might be able to afford the high priced attorney for a short case, but what if it drags on?
If you are considering an attorney make sure you check with Martindale Hubble, www.martindale.com. This firm rates attorney’s so you can understand the quality of the firm you hire. In times like today, having an attorney represent you increases the odds of having your rights exercised 100 fold.
