Updated: 02/27/2020
How to Find the Right Family Law Attorney in West Virginia
Going through a divorce is one of the most stressful periods that someone can go through in his or her lifetime. Adding pressure to ensure that your children are taken care of in your divorce plan, however, can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back if not handled properly. The need for a divorce attorney in West Virginia is crucial, but obtaining counsel who understands child custody and support along with the importance of your children’s well-being is invaluable.
Divorce is not black and white. An educated family law attorney will help you to navigate the divorce process and comprehend what needs to take place for a beneficial custody agreement to be arranged. Before you hire an attorney, you will need to do the following:
Do Your Research
The best way to start your search for a child custody attorney is to ask for recommendations. Do this by seeking advice from trusted peers, search for local divorce lawyers online who specialize in family law and look at their reviews from previous clients, and don’t hesitate to call law offices to talk with the staff about the services that they offer.
While conducting your research, look for cases that lawyers have represented that are similar to your situation. What type of experience does the lawyer have? How many years has he or she been practicing family law? Does he or she specialize in child custody and support? The more research you conduct, the more confident you will feel about selecting a divorce lawyer to represent your case.
Understand Your Situation
Gather any important documentation that you may need, get your finances in order by obtaining your own banking account, and know your case. Questions that often arise are whether or not you will need spousal support or if you will have a place to live once the divorce is finalized. Though your divorce attorney can help you sort through these questions, you need to understand that your children are the priority in these questions and you must set aside any conflict that you and your current spouse are having. Don’t let money drive you in the decisions that you make for your children and do not let revenge shape how you plan to raise them from here on out.
Since each scenario is different, safety may come into play. You need to find a child custody attorney sooner rather than later to be advised on the next steps to take and how to handle your situation. As long as you understand that you are in need of a lawyer who will fight for your rights and has the best interest of your children in mind, you are on the right track.
Set a Budget for Representation
As you start to finalize your search for a child custody attorney, make sure you have set a budget not only for your everyday finances but for legal representation as well. Do the finalists require a consultation fee or are the initial visits free? Do the lawyers work on retainers or do you pay by the hour? Don’t be afraid to ask these questions before you meet with any lawyer; when they sit down with you to review your case, they will need to know your financial situation as well as anything that pertains to your divorce and your children, so it is best to be open and honest from the start.
Go to Consultations
Many law offices offer free limited consultation sessions to potential clients. If possible, go to as many of these consultations as you can, as long as they are free or the fees do not break the bank. You need to find a lawyer who not only has experiences with cases like yours but can connect to your case. Look for personality qualities such as people skills, how he or she communicates with you, and overall genuine traits like compassion. If your lawyer won’t fight for you, no one will. You want to choose one who you feel is right for your case.
Trust Your Lawyer
Once you select your child custody attorney, trust him or her to lead you in the right direction. Your lawyer will inform you on what documentation is needed, how to handle conflicts that may arise, and what is needed to finalize child support and custody rights after your divorce.
If you are searching for a child custody lawyer who puts family first and understands that you do, too, you’ve come to the right place. Pritt & Pritt is here for you and will fight to get the best child custody agreement possible for you and your children.
To set up a free consultation, please call us at 304.720.4412 or simply send in a contact form via our website. We look forward to speaking with you soon!
