According to Statista, the United States has over 1.3 million registered attorneys, which means that there are plenty of talented and experienced professionals ready to represent clients in any area of law. The same is valid for family law.
Perhaps you believe that having a family attorney is only for wealthy families or celebrities. Well, you most probably should think again. In fact, even if you have a modest income and only a few assets, you might still benefit from the invaluable services provided by a family attorney.
In the event of a family law dispute, having a family attorney is invaluable. Therefore, investing in quality representation early on can avoid disastrous outcomes down the line. But how do you know when you need to hire a powerful family law attorney to protect your rights? Here are four signs that strongly suggest you should call an attorney as soon as possible.
Marriage Preparation
Family attorneys for marriage preparation are experts in this field and advise couples on what to expect from the marriage from a legal point of view. For example, they will be able to explain whether there’s a need for a prenuptial agreement so that each spouse knows exactly what their rights are. A family attorney for marriage preparation will also know how to protect the children if the couple ever divorces and what factors might make it best for them to live with one parent or the other.
With a family attorney for marriage preparation, you can feel safe that nothing is left out and that your best interests are safeguarded. In addition, it will help make sure that your marriage goes as smoothly as possible.
Forming Domestic Partnerships
There are several types of domestic partnerships that you and your partner can form with the help of a powerful family law attorney:
- The first is the Domestic Partnership Agreement or Civil Union, a legal recognition of your relationship that grants you some rights and responsibilities.
- The second type is the Common Law Marriage, a non-legally recognized marriage that grants you some rights and responsibilities to each other.
- Finally, you also have the option of entering into a “contractual marriage,” which is similar to a civil union or domestic partnership, meaning that you can enter into an agreement with your partner that outlines how the two of you will share property, make health care decisions for each other, and so on.
A Dispute Over Child Custody
When a couple separates, the most important thing to do is protect the well-being of the children. However, sometimes, even when both parents want to do this, they find it hard to develop an agreement that works. It takes a lot of work to figure out what will be best for the kids, and often people are so angry that they don’t think straight.
The problem is made worse because they usually have different lawyers. This makes them feel like they are competing and not working together for their kids. Having a shared lawyer who understands family law can help them communicate better and make it easier for them to understand what is really best for their children.
Everyone Needs To Lawyer Up, Just In Case
What does a family lawyer do? The short answer is—whatever you need. The longer answer is that the most important thing a family lawyer does is carefully listen to you and solve many of your everyday problems.
A family law issue can be about anything from a simple divorce to the most complex and convoluted estate planning issues. For that reason, having a family lawyer by your side can help you figure out what kind of legal services you need, then enables you to get those things done.
Family law is an area of the law where almost every case has some element of emotion or conflict attached to it. Therefore, family lawyers can handle all of that in a way that puts your interests first and keeps your case moving forward.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, any decisions you make about your family will be a personal choice and need to be made after considerable thought. It’s a good idea to assess your situation regularly and decide whether you need to hire an attorney.
Signs that will help you make this decision include increased hostility on the part of your relatives, a more significant number of confrontations compared to past years, or if you see any money or property disappearing from your bank account or accounts your family holds together. If any of these apply to you, it’s time to call an attorney and learn about your rights as a family member.
