Hire a lawyer who knows custody and who you can afford. No matter how smart or capable you are, you should never be your own lawyer. Anyone with enough commonsense and intelligence should rapidly realize that court rules are complex, state specific, and filled with pitfalls for the unwary. Then there is the law of custody. An good attorney will tell you that nothing warms their heart more than an un represented party. It is like being a pro baseball player and going up to bat with the local 12 year old little league team. You can pretty much expect to knock the ball out of the park. Now I know someone reading this is convinced either by ego or experience that they can represent themselves. The problem is, even if you have figured out enough law and procedure, you'll never be able to decouple yourself emotionally from the fight. Do you want a surgeon that gets angry? sad? or depressed while he operates on your body? A good lawyer is not emotionally attached to your situation, and can help you better understand what is possible and realistic. This doesn't mean they have to be cold or unsympathetic, but it does mean they must and can maintain a professional detachment. As for cost, it varies widely. A good lawyer is rarely free, but costs can vary greatly. In fact most people don't know what to pay for an attorney, and so they assume what they pay is normal. It might or might not be. A highly experienced attorney with years of practice might charge a lot more for a particular case, but might not be able to be any more successful than a novice attorney, if the facts and law are very certain in a case. You should also stay in budget. If you overpay for your resources, you might not be able to sustain the custody litigation. You don't want to burn all of your legal war chest to quickly, so be careful about spending too much too soon. You might be able to afford the high priced attorney for a short case, but what if it drags on? We have found that LEGAL MATCH is a great way to see what various attorneys charge for a case. They allow several lawyers to respond to your case, and give quotes and estimates. Because it is a free service and there is no obligation, it not only helps you find an attorney, but also find out what kinds of pricing are available in your area. If you don't have an attorney its a great resource, and even if you do, it gives you some second opinions on cost and strategy. Try it here. We have also found that quick custody questions can be answered on JustAnswers. - Try it here. Did you know that it is possible to find an excellent custody attorney? TIP #7 - Put the children’s needs above the custody fight.
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Use our Free Child Custody resources to learn more. Each article or vignette was prepared by an attorney, and explains some general strategies and ideas for parents with custody issues. Of course all 50 states have different laws and ways of applying the principles of child custody, so you should familiarize yourself with your state's particular custody laws and rules. |
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Considering a Custody Case? Call (877) 257-9050 to Talk to an Attorney
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Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997) (original text)
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