7 Signs You Need to Hire a Family Lawyer
On behalf of Eisenmenger, Robinson & Peters, P.A. posted in Family Law on Friday, December 30, 2022.
What if you felt that your life is slipping away or worse; that you’re helpless to stop it?
This is true for countless people across the country. Issues related to divorce, child custody, alimony, and more can leave you feeling like there is nothing you can do on your own. And considering the high divorce rate in the country, this affects millions of people on a regular basis.
The good news is that, with the right family lawyer, you don’t have to deal with these issues on your own. The lump is in your throat. Or maybe it has been for quite some time now. Is it time to pick up the phone or send an email to a family attorney?
The team at Eisenmenger, Robinson, and Peters, P.A. helps good people just like you all the time. Here’s a checklist for the biggest signs in your life indicating that you need to hire a family lawyer.
1. You’re Ready for Divorce
Perhaps the most common scenario requiring a family lawyer is divorce. If you’re ready to get divorced or even just strongly considering it, then you need to find a good family attorney.
One of the reasons you need a lawyer is to navigate all the legal complexities that come from divorce. Depending on your situation, the outcome of the divorce proceedings may affect the rest of your life, so it’s important to have the right lawyer by your side.
Another reason is quite simple: getting divorced is an emotional time for both parties. You may not be in a good headspace to handle all of the legal paperwork, but your lawyer can help you get through this very trying time.
2. The War Over Child Custody
Whether you’re in the midst of a divorce or have already gotten divorced, child custody is a primary concern. And you never know when custody issues can make a nasty divorce even messier.
During the actual divorce proceedings, a good family lawyer can help you to navigate the complexities of custody. This is very important because it determines how often you will be able to see your child for a good, long time.
Even after custody is determined, though, there can be custody issues. For example, other family members may try to take custody away from you if they are worried about your ability to raise the child. A family lawyer can help protect your custody arrangement even while others are trying to take your child away from you.
3. Your Former Partner Hired An Attorney
Sometimes, the signs that you need a family attorney are more obvious than others. For example, let’s say that you are getting divorced. If you see that your former partner has lawyered up, then you need to get your own lawyer ASAP.
Why?
Once someone lawyers up in a divorce case, it usually means they are out for blood. They may be aggressively pursuing everything from your home, other assets, and custody of your child. Without a good attorney of your own, you may not be able to fight back.
In theory, it’s possible for two people to amicably navigate a divorce without involving any lawyers. Both sides enter into a pro-se divorce with the best intentions. But in our experience, it only takes a few times being late for a handover to irritate the other side.
If this sounds like you, just keep in mind, that once separated, your former partner no longer holds you with the same regard they once did. This makes minor irritations even worse. Once these minor irritations build, it starts a downward spiral that usually ends with you talking to a family lawyer anyway. Even the best intentions can fall apart. It’s best to be protected from the beginning.
4. You Need Child Support
Child support is a very tricky issue in any divorce case. Most parents get caught up in the finer details of actual custodial arrangements. However, some parents may need child support from their former partner in order to help pay for expenses related to childcare.
Again, there is a chance that both parents can agree to child support arrangements in an amicable manner. More often than not, though, parents get very emotional during the divorce. And such emotions can make it difficult to determine a level of child support that is fair.
The good news is that a lawyer understands the process the state and judge use to determine what is fair or not. And with that knowledge, they can get you the best possible child support agreement.
5. You’re Afraid of Being Kept From Your Children
Earlier, we touched on how child custody issues can extend well past the divorce proceedings. And one example of this is when one partner tries to break custody arrangements to keep a child away from the other partner.
This may happen in subtle or even sneaky ways, including canceling visits at the last minute and suddenly denying visitation. When this happens, that partner is violating the custodial agreement, but you may have difficulty proving it.
With a family lawyer, though, you can get help documenting what is happening and making your case. This also sends a powerful message that you are willing to fight if necessary to see your children.
6. You’re Not The Bread-Winner & Need Help With Alimony
When one spouse is financially dependent on another spouse, then the dependent spouse may need alimony payments after the divorce. However, the other partner will often fight very hard to reduce the amount of alimony or even deny the payments altogether.
How much alimony you get, or whether you get alimony at all, often comes down to whether you can prove you were financially dependent on your spouse.
The right lawyer can help you determine early on whether you have a good alimony case. And if you do, they can help you gather documentation and win the alimony you deserve.
7. You’re Thinking About a Pre-Nup
So far, we have focused mostly on issues that occur during or after divorce proceedings. However, some try to avoid future marital issues by drafting a prenuptial agreement. And if this is something you’d like to create, a family attorney can make it happen.
Even if both spouses are into the idea of a prenup, though, most people have no idea how to create one. With a good lawyer, you can craft a legally-binding agreement that both parties are happy with. With any luck, this prenup can reduce the pain and headaches that may come from a future divorce.
Hire the Best Family Lawyer Today!
We’ve chatted about some of the most common signs that indicate it’s time to hire a family lawyer. But what if you’re concern wasn’t on the list? We offer a free lawyer consultation at our offices in Rockledge, FL. It won’t take long for us to share our insights that will bring you the peace of mind you seek.
Here at the law offices of Eisenmenger, Robinson & Peters, we specialize in fighting for people just like you. To discover how we can fight for your rights, contact us today!
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