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6 Questions to Ask Your Jacksonville Family Law Attorney

6 Questions to Ask Your Jacksonville Family Law Attorney

Family law matters are extremely personal and emotional. Issues like divorce, child support, child custody, and more can leave you wondering whom you can trust and where you can turn.

Having an experienced and knowledgeable attorney representing your interests is important when going through a family law issue. At Griffin Family Law, PLLC, I have helped hundreds of clients with their cases and can offer you the same legal services. I aim to help clients navigate this difficult and uncertain time and achieve the best possible outcome.

Because I am dedicated to your comfort and goals, I have created a guide of the questions you should ask when speaking to a family law attorney. The answers to these questions can help you find the right legal representation for your needs.

1. What Methods of Communication Do You Use or Prefer?

When meeting with an attorney, you must ask how you will communicate through your divorce. Regular communication with your attorney is crucial to any family law case. The attorney you speak to should tell you the average time you must wait for a response. This information will help you avoid feeling frustrated down the road.

Some methods of communication that should be offered include the following:

  • Phone calls
  • Emails
  • Texts
  • Video conferencing
  • In-person meetings

It may not be a good fit for your case if you prefer emails, but your attorney prefers phone calls. Any quality attorney will customize their communication style to meet your needs while ensuring it is appropriate for what must be communicated.

It is also wise to ask if you will speak to the attorney or their staff, like a legal assistant, secretary, or paralegal. Knowing this ahead of time helps you understand what to expect.

2. What Is Your Experience, and Will You Have a Team Helping with My Case?

An attorney’s experience matters. You need to find a family law attorney who has worked on cases similar to yours in the past. You also need a lawyer who has had success in the field.

Family law matters are a specialized area of law and often deal with sensitive and private matters. This is why hiring a general practice attorney may not be smart. Finding a lawyer who specializes in family law means they know the ins and outs of the legal system in that field, which can be used to benefit your case.

3. How Does the Attorney Charge for Their Services?

Before hiring an attorney, you need to understand their fee structure. This will help you determine if you can afford their services. Some of the costs you must cover include a retainer fee and hourly rate. There could be other fees, too.

Asking about the fees now is important and will help you avoid surprise costs later. If the cost of legal services is too much, it may be time to look elsewhere for legal representation.

4. How Long Will Your Case Take to Finalize?

No attorney can provide definite timelines or guarantees regarding how long your case will take to finalize. If they do, this is a definite red flag.

However, experienced divorce attorneys can give you an average timeline based on cases like yours that they represented in the past. Some of the factors that will impact how long your case takes include the following:

  • Assets that must be divided
  • Alimony
  • Child support
  • Child custody

5. What Type of Communication Should You Maintain with Your Spouse?

The attorney you talk to can provide advice and guidance regarding communication with your spouse. While you must discuss some things with them, you do not have to discuss your conversations with your attorney.

If you and your spouse cannot communicate amicably, you can ask your attorney for advice about handling the situation. Sometimes, you can begin communicating through your attorneys rather than directly to help keep the peace.

6. Are There Steps You Can Take to Reduce the Cost of Your Divorce and Prevent Your Spouse from Increasing It?

Sometimes, one person in the relationship may attempt to increase the cost of the divorce for the other person and make the process more difficult. Hiring an attorney with experience handling these situations is beneficial.

At Griffin Family Law, PLLC, I Can Answer All Your Family Law Related Questions

If you are dealing with a family law matter in Jacksonville, I am here to help. I have decades of experience representing clients in similar situations locally. Call my office to schedule an initial appointment.

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