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The entire divorce process evokes strong emotions. It is common to get overwhelmed and lose sight of what truly matters, which is a smooth transition into your new living environment without conflict. An excellent attorney can make family law issues straightforward and uncomplicated.
Handling a California family law issue on your own can be a long emotional battle. Hiring an attorney is only worth it if you go to a Fresno, California law firm that can minimize your stress. In addition, they should be skilled in handling the case reasonably and cost-effectively.
How Can I Educate Myself Before Hiring an Attorney?
Before hiring an attorney in Fresno, it is critical to take some time to educate yourself on various family law processes. Luckily, you can access excellent online resources and learn something new.
The California Courts Website
This website provides information on separation self-help, divorce, and filing. Readers can get an overview of the various family law processes by reading through. Having an idea of the step-by-step procedures can help you know what to expect.
California Supreme Court Website
This website is handled by the State Bar of California, which is the administrative arm of the Supreme Court. Readers can get information on divorce and custody here and learn through the FAQs.
Being equipped with these pieces of information doesn’t mean that you won’t need the services of a Fresno family lawyer. But, what it does, is help you know what to expect.
Is it Safe to Look for a Family Law Attorney Online?
Technological improvements have made it possible to find anything online, including legal help. The right way to search is to type in your city plus “divorce lawyer.” Apart from the organic results, you may want to look at other additional sites.
California State Bar
You can find out whether an attorney has been disciplined for misconduct from this site. And if you click on their profile, you might know exactly why the bar disciplined them.
FindLaw
If you want a legal directory that is rich in search results, FindLaw might be your go-to site. It also contains informative articles on family law matters.
Avvo
If you search for an attorney in Avvo, you can find more than just peer endorsements and reviews. You will also know whether they have been punished for violation of rules of professional conduct.
Yelp
Online reviews aren’t always reliable, but they can be a great starting point. Make sure that you don’t just look at the number of stars. Instead, take your time to read through the good and bad reviews.
What Can I Look for in an Attorney in Fresno?
You might not pick the wrong attorney if you know what matters when looking for legal representation for your divorce, legal separation, and child custody matters. However, doing a blind search without specific boxes for them to tick isn’t recommended.
Years of Experience
The period an attorney has been practicing law determines their level of expertise. So, make sure that you ask your Fresno family lawyer about how long they have been practicing.
Where they Attended Law School
The law school an attorney attended may not be as important as their experience, but they are also worth finding out.
Whether they Exclusively Handle Family Law
It is critical to find out whether an attorney specializes in one area of law or not. For example, complex custody matters and property division might require a specialist to handle them.
What Can I Inquire During the Initial Consultation?
Most family law attorneys don’t charge clients for an initial consultation. Apart from discussing the details of your divorce, you may want to ask a few critical questions. Here is what you might ask:
- How much is your initial retainer?
- How much do you charge per hour?
- Do you have a blended rate? If so, what is it?
- Will I receive monthly bills?
- How much do you estimate the case will cost?
- Are you familiar with the opposing counsel?
- Who will be working on my case?
- Have they handled a case before the judge assigned to my case?
- How many associates will be working on my case?
- Can I contact you in case of an emergency?
- During what hours can I call you?
Can an Attorney Disclose Anything I Say During the Consultation?
Many clients wonder whether they can be 100% honest with a family law attorney in Fresno. Most fear that the lawyer might use the information shared against them. However, the law protects you from such disclosures.
The attorney-client privilege binds a legal representative whether you retain them or not. So, no matter what you say in those sessions, you need not worry about it being used to implicate you later in court.
When is the Best Time to Hire a Family Law Attorney?
Most people wait until their spouse has served them with the divorce papers to hire an attorney. While that might still work, it is advisable to find your own legal representative as soon as you suspect your spouse is seeking a divorce.
Waiting is not a good idea because the timeframe to reply after the papers have been served is too short. And you don’t have to look for a divorce lawyer under a tight deadline. Instead, you want to take your time and scrutinize an attorney’s credentials before you settle for them.
A Law Firm Offering Outstanding Legal Services
The decision to hire a family law lawyer is not always easy. However, remember that the outcome of your divorce significantly depends on them. And if you are not well-represented, you might end up with an unfavorable settlement.
The lawyers at Tomassian, Pimentel & Shapazian give every case complete personal attention. In an era of rapid legal changes, we ensure that they stay ahead of these trends. As a result, divorcing persons in California are assured of proper representation. Talk to us today for a representation that can give you the justice you deserve.