You know that very soon your life will change substantially because you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage. You may have automatically begun thinking about all the affairs you need to get in order and how to best protect your children from the possible negative repercussions of going through child custody proceedings.
Of course, you likely know that you do not have to try to navigate the Ohio family law system on your own. Because you want the best outcomes for your children, you certainly also want to find the best legal counsel to help you throughout your case.
What should you look for?
You may have tried to start with a quick search for divorce attorneys or family law attorneys, and you may have instantly felt overwhelmed by your options. Fortunately, you can take the time to ensure that you choose the best counsel for your circumstances. In fact, because the attorney will work for you, you may want to go through an interview process of sorts. Some information you may want to consider during this process includes the following:
- Do you get along with his or her personality? Certainly, strong personalities can prove useful in the courtroom, but if you constantly feel at odds with your attorney, you may not feel comfortable.
- Does the attorney answer your questions effectively? Part of your attorney’s job is to make sure you understand the legal process ahead, and if he or she does not provide you with clear answers to your questions and concerns, you may doubt his or her abilities.
- What type of reputation does the attorney have? You could utilize the attorney directory in order to gain information on a specific candidate.
- What experience and success rate does the person have? You will want someone on your side who has been through child custody cases before and who has had success in reaching the desired outcome.
You certainly want to set your child custody case on the right footing from the start. Choosing an attorney is a major part of your case, and his or her attitude, abilities, experience and numerous other factors could all affect your child custody outcomes. It may prove useful to you to seek advice from friends and family members who have gone through similar experiences or even obtain information from court clerks. Obtaining referrals may be a good starting point as you work to find your best match for legal counsel.