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29 Sep, 2020 by Anonymous
I had a excellent experience working with Mr. Kakassy. Amy was very helpful to help me when I really did not understand what was really needed. I was a easy smooth experience and I would go to Mr. Kakassy again for any additional legal help I might need.
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09 Sep, 2020 by Charles
He represented me in case where I needed to modify my parenting plan. He sat in another room with my ex and giggled and seemed to be more a friend to my ex's attorney than my representation. He kept calling me by another name because he couldn't even remember mine. He was nice until it was game time and didn't care about my case or what was best for my child but rather to just getting it done quickly. I'm still dealing with visitation interference and he did a horrible job with the parenting plan. I absolutely would not recommend Mr Kakassy to any parent who is dealing with co-parenting issues. He's the worst I've ever experienced.
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25 Aug, 2019 by Anonymous
He was hired for a custody issue and made me look like an idiot and made copies that wasn't legible. Lucky I had the originals in court and the Judge saw what he was trying to do!! Sabotage His own client!!! I would give him 0 stars if possible!!! He is by far the worst Lawyer ever!!
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07 Jul, 2014 by Anonymous
I thought that Ms. Smith would be able to help me with my custody case. She wasn't as knowledgable as she said she was. She was not prepared and did not inform me of all of the necessary tools that would help my case. I wouldn't recommend her to anyone with a complex or difficult case.
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28 Mar, 2010 by Anonymous
He took my case, but he didn't keep in touch much and since this was my first lawyer and case like this I didn't know what to expect. I asked a few questions maybe out of a little bit of frustration and he withdrew from my case.
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28 Nov, 2016 by Anonymous
Laura is willing to do what it takes
If you are!
Thanks for everything you have done for me and my family.
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08 Apr, 2015 by Anonymous
WE HIRED HERE TO HELP WITH CHILD VISITATION. SHE COLLECTED HER MONEY AND WAS HARD TO REACH AFTERWARDS. SHE NEVER RETURNS CALLS, ONLY SENDS EMAILS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. MISINFORMED ABOUT INFORMATION. NOT VERY SERIOUS
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13 Aug, 2014 by Anonymous
I agree with all of the other comments on here. Hiring her was the worst decision I made. She barely communicated with me and when she did it was through email. Did nothing for me at mediation besides making me feel incompetent. I got nothing that I wanted. Since mediation I have not received anything that was agreed upon at the session. When I called her out on her lack of work, she stated that she would be withdrawing as my lawyer.
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09 Nov, 2014 by Howdidshepassthebar?
Our girl Amy... she has so much experience screwing people... but we were talking about her attorney skills, weren't we? Well, she may have some attorney skills, but she won't be using them to help you out... because if there is anything our Amy loves, it is using her skills to have you pay her money. Working your case... if, and I mean IF, you can get her to return your calls-- to her communicating with her client is to leave her famous message: "this has been going on too long and we need to get it resolved. I am going to (fill in the blank)..... Talk Soon!". If she does anything, she will do it half@**ed and then charged against your fee to do it the way you asked her to do it the first time.....
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07 Apr, 2014 by Anonymous
If you want to hire an attorney, getting this one is the equivalent to throwing your money in the street and setting it on fire. She does very little, and if she helps you at all, more than likely it won't be enough to actually finish your case. Beware of this lawyer. She is lazy, and the worst lawyer I've yet to hear of or TRY to work with. I count her as a big regret in my life!
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17 Mar, 2014 by Anonymous
Don't hire this lawyer. She should have known not to take my case or my money. She did a poor job of working on my case, very slow, late for court every time. She does a poor job of keeping you informed. I had to call the "Clerk of Court" for my county to get info. I had to call the State Bar to find her. She moves around a lot, or she has. She will take your money and run if she wants to and leave you with no good representation or your $$$. She will also lie as to why she thinks she earned your money if you hire her. I've never seen a lawyer this bad.
Do someone else a favor and file a complaint with the State Bar!
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26 Aug, 2012 by Kim
Ms Hardy hides how much money you owe her
does not respond in a timely fashion on information
I just after faxing her a request for a statement received it and wow owed her over 12,000 i am putting in a fee dispute cause she should have and was ethically obligated to inform when retainer was up and should have sent bills
I am also getting ready after fee dispute to file a grievence with the NC state bar..the forms are available and ncbar.com and are free to file and have done
she was more about my x husband than for me and never once even told the Alamance county court that i had moved to guildford county and that my x husband was an out of state residence and if i wanted case to stay or be moved.
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16 Jul, 2010 by Asdf
She worked my child custody proceedings and her performance was for my ex-spouse as opposed to working for me. She did not familiarize herself with my case and when I tried to give her updates she never had time for me. She was in the ex-spouse corner and eventually during the proceedings I had to stand up and speak for myself
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06 Mar, 2010 by Anonymous
Client beware, this attorney is NOT a good choice for your divorce case. I felt that I was alone in my misfortune until I met up with a couple of folks that had similar grievances with her. I initially retained her because I was told that divorce cases were her bread and butter. The initial paperwork was incorrect and had to be returned on several occasions. I should have picked up on this as an early warning sign of the incompetence to come. Several times before the case went to court we had questions, but she would explain how terribly busy she was and that she didn't have time for discussion. On the day of court, I was very anxious, but she tried to reassure me that she felt good about things as she walked into court with nothing but a bottle of fancy water. No books, records, evidence, or character witnesses, all the likes of which our opposing attorney was fully armed with. Of course the case did not end in my favor, as she not only failed to properly represent me, but told me repeatedly each time that my ex husband tried to bamboozle me that it was "in my best interest" to accept the offer. I would have thought we had "won", because after I had lost everything she excitedly talked with the opposing attorney about going out for drinks. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS I DID, AS IT NOT ONLY COSTS ME THOUSANDS BUT ALL WHICH IS IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE.I retained this woman because I thought that she would fight for me and she could not even stand up.
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13 Mar, 2024 by Anonymous
The immigration services provided by this office are the worst, they have a Paralegal named Nayubell Guevara doing immigration cases who is clueless about what she is doing. On several occasions she gave us the wrong information or instructions. She told us that the case was denied and we had to find another attorney to file an appeal because she doesn’t do those. Come to find out that the case was not denied and after two years of doing most everything ourselves after she told us the case was denied, a visa was finally issued. There was someone who was doing the case in the beginning named Terry Spearman who had to leave before it was turned over to Nayubell, he was doing a great job, but it was her who was clueless as to what she was doing, and Hogan, Edwards, and Blue seem not concerned. We were led to think she was an attorney and they never took or returned any calls. So, you will be better off spending your hard-earned money somewhere else.
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11 Mar, 2024 by Elisha
They will collect your money and that's it! They will hold hands with the opposing counsel while asking you what should he do? He is not very familiar with the total process of divorce and custody. You can do a. better job representing yourself. Don't waste your money bc they will continuously ask for while not working for a dime. Only call them if you have money to throw away and literally only want to represent yourself with the FACE of a lawyer and that's it.
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16 Nov, 2023 by Anonymous
she is first and foremost a liar and second to none in lost and confused person in her life.
After paying a retainer in excess of her childish demands for representation, along with changing schedules for court hearings and then finding out she instead needed a “nose job” thus resulting in no preparation for proper representation during hearings.
this woman needs to shunned and then invested by 1) IRS
2) Bar
Stay away from this fugazzi lawyer
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16 Jun, 2017 by Anonymous
I paid a retainer to pursue child support, 10 months later nothing had happened. She did not return emails or calls. I fired her and handled the court preceding myself
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04 Oct, 2023 by Simanta
I strongly advise against engaging with this particular law firm. I encountered several significant issues during my interaction with them, including:
1) Lack of Personal Attention: Regrettably, Mr. John McNeil demonstrated a concerning lack of attentiveness to my case. It became apparent that my emails went largely unread and unanswered. Furthermore, the conduct of his staff left much to be desired, marked by rudeness and a notable lack of responsibility.
2) Exorbitant Billing: Another disconcerting aspect of my experience was the firm's tendency to overcharge for their legal services. This left me feeling unfairly burdened financially.
3) Questionable Professionalism and Ethics: I found the overall professionalism and ethical standards of this law firm to be sorely lacking. It is my belief that they prioritize their own financial interests over the well-being of their clients.
In light of these issues, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend this firm to anyone. It appears that their primary focus is on monetary gain rather than advocating for their clients' best interests. I strongly encourage individuals seeking legal assistance to explore other options and avoid this particular firm at all costs.
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21 Apr, 2009 by Anonymous
I would definitely not recommend using John McNeil as your attorney. My overall experience was not pleasing. There was a lack of communication and on many occasions he did not return phone calls and emails in a timely manner. He showed little concern, no aggression and not much sympathy for my situation. Mr. McNeil gave me the impression - if your case is not worth the money he will not dedicate the time.
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25 May, 2017 by Anonymous
Paid my retainer fee as he requested, I sent him an email detailing my case so he did little work, if any. Never heard back from him about when to meet and where for the court date. I got to court, he showed up way after and I had already left. My husband had been calling and calling him and his office nor him ever answered.
I decided to change lawyers and being I hired him 4 days prior, I just asked him for my retainer back- he refused and made a fake invoice saying he did a bunch of research that equalled the exact amount of my retainer- how ironic eh?
He claimed to have called me and emailed me telling me when and where to meet him get never sent any backup emails or phone records.
This man is a poor excuse for a lawyer-and he knew o was strapped for money and still he Kept my money.
Take my advise-don't use him, he has no reviews but bad reviews for a reason!
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06 Nov, 2012 by Anonymous
We hired Mr. McSpadden in 2006 to handle child custody/child support case. We did the legwork of drafting a parenting plan. The only thing Mr. McSpadden did was to appear in court one time to have an extension granted to our case, and that was because he had not been active in getting information from the other party. Because of a lack of action on Mr. McSpadden's part, we ended up getting served with a countersuit from DSS. We were forced to hire (thankfully) another attorney who turned out to be very competent and proactive. However, we were not able to recover any of the $2000.00 retainer that we paid to Mr. McSpadden for a one time court appearance.
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22 Aug, 2021 by Scott
Kelsey Queen of Adkins Law is incompetent. The protective order she was assisting me with was incomplete & unenforceable. The summons was presented AFTER the hearing AND expiration. No signatures of any kind on any of the documents.
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06 Apr, 2022 by Anonymous
I and my sister were co-owners and sellers of property in North Carolina. The buyer hired this firm for the process. The agreement to sell was made on February 10th 2022. The paperwork was drafted and emailed by March 25th 2022. The purchase amount was then delivered by April 5th 2022.
The entire process took 54 days. Each time i made contact with Karen about the status of the deal, I was meet with her heavy work load and told about the "other closings" she is working on. We were never made a priority during the 54 day process. The only time the process was smooth was when Joseph himself called me to resolve an issue with his employee Karen. In which he made the process expedite in a matter of hours what Karen was dragging on into her 3rd month.
Finally when the funds arrived I noticed money missing.
During the process, over due taxes were discussed. I paid my half of the taxes however my sister did not. It was discussed and agreed that on the final payout the over due amount would be charged to my sisters portion. Upon receipt of paper work the over due amount was noted but did not contain and specific verbiage indicating the split and detailed portions of the payout.
I assumed that Karen was on top of the situation as discussed.
Upon receipt of the payout, it was discovered that the past due taxes were split between myself and my sister (not what was agreed upon). I attempted to communicate with Karen about this matter and was simply emailed a break down of items paid and copies of pour signed paperwork.
Overall I would like to give the firm more stars because of Josephs hard work and intervention, however due to Karen's Neglectful mishandling on this deal, I am out $300.00 that probably wont be rectified.
One star out of a potential five because of the gross mishandling of this deal by Mr. Josephs employee costing me $300.00.
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05 Jul, 2023 by Gregg
On 10/27/2021 I was facing a criminal contempt charge. This was a direct result of following the instruction of Lancaster and St. Louis to file a motion to suspend visitation due to growing concerns regarding the immediate physical safety of my son while in his mother's care. As part of the motion to suspend, hundreds of pages of medical records had been subpoenaed and secured from to different mental health providers. This also took many billable hours to read through and organize. When these records were referenced during the hearing, the defendant simply stated that “both providers were lying and embellishing records in order to get paid by Medicaid”. LeAnn’s response was to stare blankly into space and after an awkward silence, simply moved on in her questioning. An accusation of Medicare fraud under oath apparently did not warrant any additional questions of LeAnn. This was detrimental to my case and resulted in the motion being dismissed. To add to this, a contempt charge had been filed in response for me not providing my son for visitation (due to the concerns outlined in the motion). I was quickly found guilty and the judge ordered from the bench that I pay a $500 fine to the defendant along with a 1 year criminal suspended sentence. This is where things became much worse. 1/ I followed LeAnn’s instructions and had a check out to her within days of that judgement. LeAnn did nothing with this for months, until opposing counsel contacted her about it and their next step was going to be to file contempt charges where I would have ended up with a 30 day sentence in jail. 2/ LeAnn’s lack of attention to detail and rushing through her work became quite apparent. The judgement was drawn up by the defense and LeAnn had her opportunity to make edits or “red line” and send back to counsel for the defense. LeAnn overlooked that the draft judgement did not specifically state the 1 year sentence the judge ordered from the bench and was entered without a duration; this meant my criminal suspended sentence went from a judgement of 1 year to the 10+ years remaining until my son is 18. I asked repeatedly for clarification on the judgement and was not provided with an answer. There were at least 7 emails requesting this information, all while remaining polite and professional as I have throughout my representation with this firm. Finally, LeAnn called me (which was very unusual) the afternoon of 4/15. LeAnn attempted to downplay the judgement and even proceeded to advise me that “well it isn’t really criminal…” when it in fact it very much was. As a final “farewell”, LeAnn filed a new motion related to child support and received an objection back from opposing counsel. In hindsight this followed a pattern of Lancaster and St. Louis filing motions that simply went nowhere. After receiving a copy of the objection as the attorney of record representing me, the next day LeAnn emailed me to withdraw from the case entirely citing my “dissatisfaction”. To make matters worse, LeAnn failed to provide me with a copy of this objection, as she is required to do so as the attorney of record at the time of the objection. The truth of the matter is that LeAnn had dug herself a significant hole. Instead of stepping up and taking responsibility, she ran, leaving me to clean up her mess. When you look for legal counsel, look for someone who will be accountable for their work and that will stick with their client. The representation by Lancaster and St. Louis overall was sporadic, sluggish and made themselves necessary based on their own repeated missteps and oversights. If you are a current client, it may be time to take a closer look at what “work” is being completed. As a potential client, I would recommend you look elsewhere for legal representation as there are plenty of quality attorneys in Mecklenburg and Cabarrus County
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09 Dec, 2012 by Anonymous
My experience with this attorney was extremely disappointing! My initial consultation with him was great, but several weeks after paying my retainer I started to feel that I was "Just another case" to him. I felt his style was harsh, direct and to the point. I didn't feel that my best interests were important to him because he basically ignored some major concerns I had in my case. I would not recommend this attorney to anyone!
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07 May, 2022 by Bobbie
I was married for 14 yrs in a marriage that lasted way too long. He left me financially destroyed. My Lycans didn't get me any sort settlement on the divorce. Didn't even try to. In the custody battle, I had 3 cases left to trial, she switched to my ex husband's lawyers law firm & could no longer represent me. So I had to hire another attorney last minute. What was worse is that she had put in her contract that I signed originally that I couldn't get my money back if it happened. So she knew the entire time she was switching to his lawyers lawfirm. Totally screwed me over & has no soul. Do not hire.
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23 Aug, 2021 by Anonymous
We hired DeAnne to guide us through child support revision. Consult was great and we felt good about it, then covid hit and courts were delayed for over a year. DeAnne disappeared and the case was given to Mr. Farris. The Ball was totally dropped and I felt like I could have represented myself better. He never called to discuss my case until an hour before our Zoom call. And I still have not heard anything from them regarding my case and its been over a month.
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10 Feb, 2017 by Anonymous
Ex was hindering visits with child.
Hired Linda to take her to court for contempt.
Had me waiting a year before even filing After taking payment.
2 years later when finally get to court she informs me that she filed for more visits instead of contempt in essence leaving it up to judge to spend my visits due to son being brainwashed against me
So hiring her cost me contact with my son!
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FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What a Child Custody Lawyer Can Do for You
A child custody lawyer specializes in helping parents navigate legal matters related to the custody and care of their children, particularly in the context of divorce, separation, or other family disputes. These lawyers assist with determining custody arrangements, drafting parenting plans, and advocating for your rights in court. They also help resolve disputes over physical custody (where the child lives), legal custody (who makes decisions for the child), visitation rights, and modifications to existing custody orders.
Whether you're going through a divorce or need to change an existing custody arrangement, a child custody lawyer can help you understand your rights and protect your child's best interests throughout the legal process.
When Should I Hire a Child Custody Lawyer?
You should consider hiring a child custody lawyer in several situations, especially when disputes arise or complex legal issues affect your parental rights. Some common reasons to hire a child custody lawyer include:
- Divorce or separation: If you're going through a divorce or separation and need to establish custody and visitation arrangements, a lawyer can help ensure the custody order reflects your child's best interests.
- Disputed custody cases: If you and the other parent cannot agree on custody or visitation terms, a lawyer can advocate for your rights in court and help you develop a strong case.
- Modification of custody orders: If you need to change an existing custody arrangement due to changes in circumstances (e.g., relocation, changes in the child’s needs), a lawyer can help file a modification request.
- Parental alienation: If the other parent is interfering with your relationship with your child, a lawyer can help address these issues through legal action.
- Domestic violence or abuse: If there is a history of domestic violence or abuse, a lawyer can help protect you and your child by requesting restraining orders and advocating for appropriate custody arrangements.
- Grandparent or third-party custody: If you are a grandparent or another relative seeking custody or visitation rights, a lawyer can guide you through the legal process.
- Paternity disputes: In cases where paternity is in question, a lawyer can assist with establishing or challenging paternity, which may affect custody and visitation rights.
Hiring a lawyer early in the process can help protect your parental rights and ensure that the custody arrangement is in your child's best interests.
What Does a Child Custody Lawyer Do?
A child custody lawyer provides a variety of legal services to help parents resolve custody disputes and secure favorable custody arrangements for their children. Their responsibilities often include:
- Filing custody petitions: Helping you file the necessary paperwork to request custody or visitation rights and ensuring all legal procedures are followed.
- Negotiating custody agreements: Assisting in negotiating custody and visitation arrangements, often working toward a mutually beneficial parenting plan without going to court.
- Representing you in court: If you and the other parent cannot agree on custody terms, representing you in court by presenting evidence and making legal arguments to support your case.
- Drafting parenting plans: Helping you draft a comprehensive parenting plan that outlines the schedule for physical custody, decision-making responsibilities, and visitation.
- Handling child support issues: Assisting with related issues such as child support, ensuring that financial obligations are properly calculated and enforced.
- Modifying custody orders: Helping you request a modification from the court if you need to change an existing custody arrangement due to significant life changes.
- Mediating custody disputes: Acting as a mediator to help both parents reach an agreement on custody and visitation without the need for litigation.
How Are Child Custody Lawyers Paid?
Child custody lawyers typically charge for their services based on the complexity of the case, the time involved, and the nature of the legal work. Common payment methods include:
- Hourly rate: Most child custody lawyers charge by the hour, with rates ranging from $150 to $500 or more, depending on the lawyer's experience and location. The total cost depends on the time spent preparing documents, negotiating, and representing you in court.
- Flat fee: For simple custody matters or uncontested custody agreements, some lawyers may offer a flat fee for specific services, such as drafting a parenting plan or filing a custody petition.
- Retainer: Many lawyers require an upfront retainer fee, which is billed against as the lawyer works on your case. The amount varies based on the expected complexity and duration of the case.
- Sliding scale or pro bono services: Some lawyers may offer reduced fees or pro bono (free) services for clients with limited financial means, particularly in cases involving domestic violence or other serious issues.
It’s important to discuss fees and payment arrangements with your lawyer during the initial consultation to understand how much you will be charged and what services are included.
How Much Does a Child Custody Lawyer Cost?
The cost of hiring a child custody lawyer depends on various factors, including the complexity of the case, whether it’s contested or uncontested, and the lawyer’s experience. General cost estimates include:
- Uncontested custody cases: Legal fees may range from $1,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the paperwork and any negotiations.
- Contested custody cases: Legal fees can range from $5,000 to $40,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the issues, the need for expert testimony, and the time spent in litigation.
- Hourly rates: Lawyers typically charge between $150 and $500 per hour, with higher rates for more experienced attorneys or complex custody disputes.
- Mediation services: If both parents agree to work through mediation, costs typically range from $1,000 to $5,000 or more for the mediation process.
Always ask for a clear cost estimate during your consultation to ensure that you understand the total legal fees and payment structure.
Top Questions to Ask a Child Custody Lawyer
Before hiring a child custody lawyer, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure they are the best fit for your case. Some key questions to ask include:
-
What experience do you have with child custody cases?
Ensure the lawyer has experience handling cases similar to yours, especially if your case involves complex issues like domestic violence, relocation, or paternity disputes. -
How do you charge for your services?
Clarify whether the lawyer charges by the hour, offers flat fees for certain services, or requires a retainer, and ask for an estimate of the total cost. -
What is the likelihood of success in my case?
Ask for an honest assessment of your case, including potential challenges and expected outcomes. -
How long will the process take?
Inquire about the expected timeline from filing the petition to reaching an agreement or going to trial. -
Will you personally handle my case?
Ensure you know who will be managing your case and representing you in court. -
Can we pursue mediation or alternative dispute resolution?
Ask whether the lawyer recommends mediation or other forms of dispute resolution to avoid a lengthy court battle.
How to Check the Credibility of a Child Custody Lawyer
To ensure you are hiring a reputable child custody lawyer, follow these steps to verify their credentials and experience:
- Verify their bar status: Check with your state bar association to confirm that the lawyer is licensed to practice and has no history of disciplinary actions.
- Look for family law experience: Review the lawyer’s website or professional profile to ensure they specialize in family law and child custody cases.
- Read client reviews and testimonials: Look for client reviews on platforms like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, or Google to gauge the lawyer’s professionalism and success in child custody matters.
- Ask for references: A credible lawyer should be able to provide references from past clients who have worked with them on custody cases.
- Check for certifications: Look for lawyers who are board-certified in family law or have memberships in organizations like the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) or local family law sections.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To get the most out of your first consultation with a child custody lawyer, come prepared with relevant documents and information:
- Court orders or existing custody agreements: Bring copies of any existing custody or visitation orders for the lawyer to review.
- Communication with the other parent: Provide copies of emails, texts, or letters regarding custody, visitation, or disputes.
- List of your child’s needs: Prepare a list of your child’s specific needs, such as medical care, education, and extracurricular activities.
- Timeline of the case: Outline key events related to your custody case, including changes in living situations or parental involvement.
- Questions for the lawyer: Write down any questions about the custody process, legal fees, and the lawyer’s strategy for your case.
By being well-prepared, you can help the lawyer assess your situation effectively and receive the best possible advice for protecting your rights and your child’s well-being.
