An Overview of Family Law Services in West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach is home to a wide range of family law services, offering residents experienced attorneys to tackle family-related disputes through the courts. Whether you’re seeking a divorce from your spouse or are attempting to modify a previous alimony ruling, there are solutions available. Although you may be tempted to try to resolve these issues on your own, hiring a skilled attorney who specializes in these matters is the wisest course of action.
One of the primary family law services in West Palm Beach involves divorce and the end of a marriage. This typically involves numerous processes, including dividing and distributing property, negotiating alimony agreements, and establishing child support arrangements. For many people, dividing property is the most arduous process, as they may be forced to relinquish a part of what they have worked for their entire lives. Experienced attorneys will walk you through this difficult process and strive to ensure that you’re not adversely affected by the process.
Child custody arrangements are also an important component of any family-related dispute. Custody can be difficult for divorced parents to arrange , as it requires serious compromises and discussions on both sides. That said, there are typically two types of custody to consider: primary and legal custody. Primary custody typically involves living arrangements — where children will stay when it’s their turn to be with one parent or the other. Legal custody involves more abstract considerations and generally involves decision-making authority on important family matters, such as who a child can visit or travel with.
Both of these aspects of custody are often hotly contested and require the support and guidance of an attorney who specializes in the family law process. An attorney can help you determine the best possible proposal to present to the court, and can offer advice on how to move forward based on your specific goals.
Advantages of a Free Consultation
For all of these reasons, I recommend that you take advantage of free consultations with family law attorneys in West Plam Beach or other counties to determine which attorney is the best fit for you and your case. Initial consultations give you the opportunity to interview the attorney and see if he or she is someone you can work with. I have received a lot of calls where a potential client says they know the attorney and have already spoken with the attorney but, did not retain that attorney returning for a "second opinion" to see if there is a different approach to their case that may be more successful. Another benefit, is that you get the opportunity to interview the staff in the law firm to see if they are friendly and helpful. Most attorney’s have the staff answer the phone in a cheerful tone and have them pass along messages to the attorney or respond on their behalf. However, the real question you should be asking yourself is: do I want this person working on my case? Because, as I said before, attorneys are only able to contract with a couple of clients a month. They will be spending time with staff daily preparing documents, going to court, drafting pleadings, etc. So, if you do not like the accountant, or the paralegal, or the receptionist at the law firm, this may be a sign that the firm is not the right one for you. Or, you may be working with the attorney directly, in that case you need to ask yourself: is this someone I can sit across from in mediation and have a reasoned discussion with? Is this someone who will respond to my emails and phone calls? Communication is key in an attorney-client relationship and an attorney who does not communicate with you cannot adequately and competently represent you. One way to test these waters is to ask for the attorney’s card and then send out a follow up email shortly after the consultation thanking them for meeting with you, explaining you are continuing to explore your options, and asking any additional questions you had after the consultation. The response time to the follow up email can usually give you an indication of what communication is going to be like during your case.
We also find that many attorneys in West Palm beach provide free consultations. Family law attorneys offer free consultations so you do not have to jump through hoops to pay for a consultation with a family law attorney. I find attorneys who charge for consultations offer little to no value in the consultation. They simply use the consultation as an opportunity to "sell" their services rather than provide information to see if they are a good fit for you and the case. If an attorney is not willing to meet with you face-to-face for free, I would consider that a red flag. You want an attorney who is out there giving free consultations. Someone who believes in their ability to help people will not be afraid to offer a consultation so you can assess your options. Of course, the world is not perfect and we cannot control the world we live in. So, if a face-to-face meeting for a free consultation does not work out. We offer free or reduced price consultations via video conferencing systems such as Skype or FaceTime, so that you do not have to waste resources on an attorney who you have never met.
Marital/Divorce Issues Covered by Attorneys
Family law covers some of life’s most challenging situations and emotions. Clients facing issues that will affect their family’s future are sensitive by nature, and situations involving children are especially emotionally charged. A reputable attorney can be a guiding force throughout the process of divorce, custody, adoption, and related matters. Family law attorneys in West Palm Beach generally focus on the following areas:
Divorce A family law attorney can help you navigate the divorce process and assess your financial situation to fairly divide your assets. Florida operates under equitable distribution laws, and marital assets should be fairly distributed, though not necessarily evenly split. Complex assets and businesses often require thorough evaluation, and an experienced family law attorney can steer you away from financially destructive pitfalls. The division of property also includes debt. The attorney you choose will also prepare for negotiations with the other side’s attorney or mediation. Child custody is a common topic during these negotiations.
Child Custody Florida family law courts operate on the belief that it is best for children to maintain relationships with both parents. A family law attorney can help you negotiate a child custody plan and parenting agreement that outlines how you and your ex-spouse will share custody. If negotiation fails, an attorney softens the blow of family court mediation and litigation. In Florida, family law courts take each parent’s moral, physical, and mental fitness into account when awarding custody.
Child Support Although child support agreements are made during divorce proceedings, post-divorce modification, and litigation, family law attorneys assist you throughout the process. Your children’s best interests will come first. Judges and attorneys review child support information in Florida to determine the amount required. Child support agreements take multiple factors into account, including both parents’ financial situations and the needs of the children. Most states recognize this information as sensitive, allowing only authorized parties access to records. Alimony Alimony allows a spouse to enjoy the same standard of living after paying a divorce settlement. Alimony is a sizable issue in divorce proceedings, and family law attorneys often step in to ensure that agreements are not significantly harmful to one party. Spousal support may be temporary or permanent, depending on the circumstances of the divorce. When negotiating alimony and child support, either spouse can request a lifestyle analysis. Each state has rules for how alimony is structured, but there are three common types of alimony: Although courts base spousal support on several factors, they often keep the duration of employment in mind. Adoption Attorneys help clients navigate the rigors of the adoption process. Requirements and rules vary from state to state. Child adoption is usually more complicated, though international and adult adoptions are available in many states. Florida adoption agencies thoroughly screen parents seeking to adopt children. In many cases, an attorney must approve adoption applications and home studies for families.
Hiring a Family Law Attorney
In your quest to find the best family law attorney offering free consultations in West Palm Beach, it’s important to consider several factors. These include experience and reputation along with other considerations such as general communication skills and responses to previous client testimonials. Experience and Reputation – These two factors are closely related. As a general rule, experienced attorneys with a strong reputation are usually ones that have had past cases where they applied their legal expertise in their practice areas and were successful as a result of that. Clearly, this is more important when your family law legal issue is more complex and requires a greater detail of information, counsel or representation. However, it is also one of the most important factors even in simpler family law issues that are of a more routine nature. Reputation and credibility go a long way toward the ability of any family law attorney to effectively represent your interests under Florida’s family law statutes. Communication Skills – This is your part in the attorney/client relationship and is best demonstrated in the initial response from a family law attorney to your request for an initial consultation or a specific question that needs answering right away. An initial response that is made within 24 hours is usually a sign of a responsive attorney that is willing to take the time to follow-up during busy periods. Follow-up phone calls within 1-2 days and email messages within 24 hours demonstrates the importance of your case and your legal issues to them , no matter how trivial you may believe them to be. An attorney that quickly follows up and gives you more than adequate contact time is an attorney who understands how important family law issues are to people and how they impact the lives of those people. Past Client Testimonials – Every attorney has a process for presenting testimonials from former clients and an attorney seeking clients has to take the time and effort to have them submitted and then published. Therefore, every testimonial for a family law attorney also shows what priority they place on getting feedback from their clients. In short, past client testimonials are valuable insights into how the attorney does business and what the driver is for improving their practice and helping their clients with their legal needs.
Preparing For Your Appointment
Prior to your consultation with an attorney, make a list of all the information and documentation which you believe might be necessary for your attorney to properly assess your circumstances. This preparation should include the following: Your attorney should be able to use this information to provide you with a thorough and accurate analysis of your case. Since many attorneys handle a number of different types of cases, prepare a list of the questions you think are most important to you. Bring this along to the consultation. A consultation is probably your only opportunity to meet with several different attorneys before you select one, and it can be an extremely productive experience if you get off on the right foot.
Getting in Touch with a Family Law Attorney in West Palm Beach
For those looking to contact a family law attorney in West Palm Beach who offers free initial consultations, there are several approaches to pursue. You may begin your search on Google by entering "Free Consultation West Palm Beach Family Attorney," or something similar. While this approach may serve to get you connected to good results, try to be specific when narrowing down your search, i.e. "Free Consultation West Palm Beach Divorce Attorney."
Visiting each individual attorney’s website will allow you to learn about their education and experience, the length of time they have been practicing , and if they have received any awards. You also want to find out if the lawyer has had any disciplinary sanctions from the state bar association, which could mean they are not in good standing.
If you have family or friends with experience in the area of family law, you should discuss your concerns with them and see if they have any recommendations for lawyers with whom they may have worked.
Online ratings from previous legal clients, as well as peer review systems that award lawyers a rating based on peer survey responses, can be helpful in assessing an attorney’s qualifications.