How to Choose the Right Family Law Attorney in North Carolina?

You’re facing a divorce. You’re not sure whether your spouse will put up a fight. You’re nervous about the division of assets and child custody. You need a lawyer. The question is how to choose the right family law attorney in North Carolina.

There’s not necessarily one North Carolina family lawyer that will be right for everyone. You need to get along with your lawyer, and people’s personalities are different. There are, however, a few traits shared by every good family lawyer. We’ll go over those and more below.

Hire a Family Law Attorney

The divorce rate in North Carolina was 2.7 divorces per 1,000 residents. That’s slightly higher than the national average of 2.4. What these numbers indicate is that rates of divorce in the Tarheel State are on the decline. That said, the age at which most people get divorced has risen over the past several decades. In 2020, the median age for a woman getting a first divorce was 40.1, compared to 27.7 in 1970. A similar trend applies to men.

What these statistics show us is that while fewer people are getting divorced overall, those who do decide to untie the knot will have made more significant investments in their marriages. They’ll be more likely to have children and to share assets like houses, expensive items, and retirement funds.

If you’re getting divorced and have children or a substantial amount of shared property, you should hire a family law attorney. Our Statesville family lawyer will be intimately familiar with relevant family laws. They’ll have handled many similar family law cases. They’ll be able to help you with everything from keeping track of deadlines to negotiating the terms of your divorce.

How to Choose the Right Family Law Attorney

Now that you have a clear understanding of why it’s so important to have an attorney, to begin with, let’s get into the details of how to choose the right family law attorney in North Carolina. To start, all competent family law attorneys will share these traits:

• Experience in the field. You want a family lawyer who has been practicing in this area of the law for at least a few years. Look into your lawyer’s background and find out how much of their firm is dedicated to family law to get a clear idea of their level of experience.
• Knowledge of family laws. You’ll also want a lawyer who has an intimate knowledge of family laws. One good way to tell whether your lawyer is knowledgeable in their field is to ask specific legal questions that pertain to your situation during your initial consultation.
• A track record of success. Check online reviews and testimonials to see how other clients have felt about working with the attorney in question. That will give you a clear idea of their track record.
• Communication skills. Your family lawyer will need to communicate effectively not just with you but also with your spouse and their lawyer. Choose someone whose communication style works for you.
• Organization. A good family lawyer will be organized. That’s a must for documenting information correctly and keeping everything up to date. You don’t want any details to get overlooked.
• Litigation experience. Not all attorneys have spent a lot of time litigating cases. If you’re facing a contested divorce, you should prioritize finding an attorney with trial experience.
• A good attitude. A little understanding and empathy will go a long way toward making your experience less stressful, which is why a good attitude is a must for competent family law attorneys. Your lawyer should be patient, positive, and helpful.

Understanding Fee Schedules for Family Lawyers

You’ll notice that we haven’t mentioned anything about fees yet. That’s because we don’t want to give you the impression that hiring a family lawyer is like hiring a contractor. You can’t prioritize finding the lowest price. Instead, choose a family law firm that has a clear fee schedule without any surprises down the line. Your Statesville divorce lawyer should be upfront with you about what to expect in terms of costs.

FAQs About How to Choose the Right Family Attorney in North Carolina

How Do You Choose the Right Family Law Attorney?

You choose the right family law attorney by evaluating each lawyer’s knowledge, experience, attitude, and approach to cases. You want a family law attorney who is communicative and organized, has tried many family law cases, and knows family laws inside and out. You should also choose a lawyer you get along with because you could be spending a good deal of time working with them.

What Should You Not Tell a Family Law Attorney?

You should not tell anything to your family law attorney that isn’t true. You should tell them about everything relevant to the case. Do not hide details or avoid facts because they may not be helpful. Your attorney needs to know everything relevant to provide you with good representation and negotiate a fair divorce settlement.

How Do I Know if a Family Lawyer Is Good or Not?

You know if a family lawyer is good or not based on factors like their knowledge of family laws, their experience in representing similar clients, and how well they communicate with you. Seek out an experienced lawyer who is organized and has a positive attitude, and be sure they have a communication style you like. You may be talking a lot.

Can You Really Tell Your Family Lawyer Everything?

You can really tell your family lawyer everything. Don’t hide facts or lie about things. It will only make your attorney’s job harder and could complicate negotiations with your spouse. Your attorney will use the information you give them to represent you effectively, and they can only do that if you’re telling them the truth.

Your North Carolina Family Lawyer

Now that you know how to choose the right family law attorney in North Carolina, it’s time to act. Work with a lawyer who is knowledgeable, has experience, and has a track record of successfully representing other clients in similar cases. Work with Lassiter & Lassiter Attorneys at Law. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.