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At some point in your life, there may come a time when you face some kind of complicated family issue. It can be emotional, stressful, and embarrassing, but handling the situation on your own, might not be the best choice. Having a professional there to guide you can make things a lot easier.

If you are still not sure if hiring a family lawyer is right for you, keep on reading. We are going to take a look at some of the reasons why you should do it.

Let’s get started.

They cover many different areas

Most people assume that family lawyers handle divorce matters only, but that is actually far from the case. Their expertise cover many different areas, and they can also work alongside other legal professionals. Here are a few various examples of cases they may work:

• Adoption 
• Child custody and support
• Estates and wills
• Prenuptial agreements
• Domestic violence 

They know the law

The law system can be extremely complicated to understand, and even if you do your research, it’s impossible to grasp it fully. Family lawyers are trained to know the ins and outs of all related matters and can help represent you in the best way possible. The last thing you want is to damage your case by misunderstanding the facts. Check out these Kevin Ferry Law Firm for more information.

They will help with the paperwork

Any legal situation requires a lot of paperwork, and it can be challenging to understand. Having a family lawyer there to help ensures that you can fill everything out with the correct and appropriate information. It is better to get it completed and right the first time than have 101 questions when something goes wrong.

They provide emotional support

Going through a divorce, settling child custody, or really any aspect of family law can be a very stressful and upsetting process. Having somewhere there to help is not only beneficial for the legal side but also the emotional one as well. These professionals are there to listen to your side of the story while offering support to assist you with this time. It’s much easier than having to handle things all on your own.

They will save you time and money

The entire legal process of going to court requires a lot of time and money, which you may want to avoid. By hiring legal help, you might be able to settle a dispute without going through such a complicated journey. Everything will be less painful, and you can move on with your life more quickly.

They will help prepare you for the future

Since family lawyers also assist with wills and pre/post-nuptial agreements, they can help prepare you for your future. You can rest assured knowing that your assets will be divided up safely and that your loved ones are taken care of. Whatever the future holds, they are always there to lend a helping hand. Even if that means pointing you in the direction of another legal professional.

By William Vogeler, Esq. on February 03, 2017, 6:00 AM

So you actually want to start a family law practice? And you did not come to this decision because a friend or family member asked you to help with a divorce? Do you actually want to spend your life in the most emotional battle zone in law?

Just checking, because, if you didn’t know it, there are good reasons why many lawyers run from practicing family law. It can be emotionally draining, financially challenging, and even dangerous to your health. Once you can accept that, it’s not that hard to start a family law practice.

Here are some tips, but first a story to double-check your commitment:

Gunshots Heard ‘Round the Courthouse

Years ago, I was practicing family law in a jurisdiction where a commissioner, two lawyers, and two litigants were shot and killed following bitter custody battles. A grandmother and grandchild were victims, too, in a murder-suicide with a lawyer.

That should be enough said, but here’s how it affected the practice in general. Lawyers were scared. The man who walked into the opposing counsel’s office and shot him dead probably did it for many attorneys. Or maybe it was the guy who followed the commissioner home and murdered him in his driveway.

Anyway, one day I stopped by another practitioner’s office to deliver some documents and to chat. She had installed bullet-proof glass in the reception area. Think about that.

Clients Will Come; Challenges Will Follow

If there is a bright side to these tales of woe, it is that there is no shortage of angry and disillusioned people who need legal help in family matters. Getting clients is not the real challenge to starting a family practice. Statistically, half your married friends will need your help with a divorce one day.

Being there for people who are emotionally broken is actually the “good” part of the practice. You can be a counselor in more than the legal sense, helping the wounded to heal emotionally and legally. Just do a good job and they will come.

The biggest challenge to “family practice” is that it is really more like “everything practice.” You may start by filing a petition for dissolution in family court and end up in probate court if somebody dies (naturally, hopefully; otherwise, it may be criminal court.) Domestic violence and juvenile proceedings may actually be in the same building because “family lawyers” easily get entangled in other practice areas.

New practitioners try to learn it all but they really should learn to refer cases to others for special handling. For example, new family attorneys should send out qualified domestic relations orders — which divide pensions and retirement plans — to other counsel who keep up with that part of the law. Basically, the learning curve is continuous and continuing education is mandatory.

Family Law Specialists

Certified by state bars in some jurisdictions, family law specialists usually have a leg up on the competition. Clients like to know that their lawyer knows more than their spouses’ lawyer.

In any case, you will get to know most of the attorneys in the family law community. There is certain collegiality, and it is a good thing in a difficult practice area and useful for referral work, especially for new practitioners. It is even appropriate to drop by and chat with opposing counsel — if you can get past the bullet-proof glass.