Family law is a broad area of practice, as represented by the non-exhaustive list in the column to the right. A number of issues fit into five broad categories:
• Child Custody and Visitation
• Child and Spousal Support
• Domestic Violence
• Property Division
• Contracts
It’s important to spot the issues as far in advance as possible: litigation might be won or lost before the hearing depending on how a party’s conduct colors any arguments made on their behalf when they are before the court. Knowing how to prepare is invaluable lest a party attempt to scale the mountain of the status quo.
As a litigant, you not only want a strong advocate beside you in court, but one that thinks ahead and helps you present your best facts to the court. Part of this includes recognizing when additional experts are needed: Whom should you choose for a custody evaluation? How about a forensic accountant for determining support or property division – do you believe there may be hidden assets that the community has a right to? Is there a community business that needs to be valued?
All of those questions represent just a few of the situations where it may be prudent to bring in experts from other fields to support your case. Whether or not this is appropriate is entirely dependent on the facts of your case and a discussion between you and your counsel. Having an attorney who can help you navigate the issues that the court views as important to resolving your case can be indispensable to getting the results you want.
Disclaimer: While this post references general legal situations, it is not legal advice. The use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.