Family Attorney Guide
If there is one thing you need to know about civil or criminal proceedings, its that you should never attempt to represent yourself. Always take the time to get legal advice or even retain the services of an experienced Family Attorney. Family attorneys have experience handling cases related to Child Custody, Divorce, and Family disputes such as inheritance or abuse. Having an experienced lawyer representing your case definitely helps your chances of success. Getting started early and consulting an attorney at the start of the process will help you make the best decisions for your case.
Why Hire a Family Attorney?
Getting put through court proceedings can be expensive. And no matter the circumstances, a court case related to family will always be stressful. Anyone who is or has been involved in a divorce, a child custody case, or any other family law case will confirm this. When you can't rely on family for support you need to have someone who will fight for you and help you make the best decisions. You need a family attorney to give you legal advice.
If you cannot afford to retain a family attorney, there are ways for you to obtain the services of low income family lawyers. In the case of a divorce, if your spouse is financially secure and you are not, you may be able to get a court to order your spouse to pay all or a portion of your legal fees. If this is not the case, there are options available for obtaining family attorneys at a free or greatly reduced rate. Every attorney or law firm will have different requirements so be sure to inquire during any initial consultations.
Free Legal Aid?
Free Legal aid is often offered through larger legal companies or law firms that have community outreach programs. Most Bar Associations also have community service suggestions or requirements for their member lawyers. The guiding principal for those lawyers and attorneys that offer free legal aid is the belief that everyone should have access to legal counsel regardless of money. You can start your search by starting to look for pro bono family attorneys by type or by location using the link Family Legal Aid - justia.com. You can also find local pro bono attorneys by contacting your local legal offices and asking about pro bono services.
Be sure to reach out to any local law firms and give them the details of the case, and your financial standing. If you meet their standards, you can potentially receive free legal aid. One of the first things you should do is to call your state bar association. Look in your phone book or do an online search. Bar associations are a wealth of information about family lawyers or programs that can provide services at a free or greatly reduced rate. They may even have local private programs that can provide advice from a family attorney. Some state or local bar associations have specific programs wherein lawyers have agrees to devote a certain amount of time to pro bono representation. Few other free and affordable alternatives to consider can be found on this article Free and Affordable Alternatives from money.usnews.com
Additional Tips for Finding a Family Attorney:
Another source of information is your local legal aid office. Most cities and counties have one and their contact information can be found in the phone book or with a simple online search. They may even have a website that provides the information you need to find family lawyers who volunteer their time. Since legal aid is for the assistance of low-income clients, you may have to apply. If you are unable to find assistance through state and local sources, you can search for non-profit legal services networks that are funded through Federal Grants. These offices provide a wide range of Civil Law services through their staff of experienced attorneys and paralegals. They can help with divorce and custody cases and give you advice on related matters such as property settlements, asset allocation etc.
Another option for obtaining the services of a bro bono family attorney (free legal aid from family attorneys) is through you local law school. Many of these schools run legal clinics where you can obtain assistance from law students under the supervision of experienced family attorneys and law professors. Depending on where you live, there may be privately funded non-profits legal aid in your area that provide specific legal services to a particular population. They may specialize in immigration or landlord tenant law or representing seniors. If in addition to being unable to afford an attorney, if you are disabled, battered, elderly etc, mention this to EVERY agency you speak to. You may be eligible for a pro bono family attorney for which you might not otherwise qualify. If an agency cannot help directly, they may be able to coordinate getting you a family lawyer.