Family law matters such as divorce, paternity, and custody arrangements are complex. High emotions and increasing tensions can make working together to achieve a solution even more challenging. When you need a family law attorney to help represent you and your family’s best interests, you need someone experienced with your situation to help negotiate reasonable terms for the parties involved. However, with the number of family law attorneys in Central Florida, how do you pick one to represent you? Here is what you should consider when hiring a family law attorney.
Ability To Navigate High Emotions
It’s important to choose an attorney who can navigate the emotional strain family law cases often involve with a clear mind and level head to achieve the best results for you and your family. Not all family attorneys are created the same—you want someone with experience handling similar cases. When hiring a family law attorney, ask specific questions to understand the cases they typically handle, such as divorce, adoption, or child support enforcement. Take advantage of low-cost consultations to understand how they’d approach your case.
Why Local Expertise Matters
When you see advertisements for huge law firms plastered everywhere, choosing a large, national law firm to represent your case may seem like a great choice. However, many of these firms work with clients across the country, so they often don’t understand the intricacies of Florida law. Regarding child custody and divorce, you need an attorney with a deep understanding of Florida laws so no time is wasted during negotiations. Family law changes constantly, and you want someone who knows local laws and statutes inside and out to ensure you are treated fairly and achieve a favorable outcome.
Intersecting Family and Criminal Law
Child support is awarded in nearly all divorce cases. Once a child support payment is established, your ex must make regular monthly payments until the children turn 18 or graduate high school, whichever occurs last. When your ex falls behind on their payments, you have several legal options to force your ex to pay. An experienced family law and criminal lawyer understands these options and can help navigate ensuring your ex pays what they owe. As a criminal defense and family law attorney, Alison M. Lopes understands the criminal aspects and family law issues regarding failing to pay child support and can help guide you through the best course of action.
Established Experience and Expertise
When seeking legal representation, choosing a lawyer with a proven track record is crucial. Their credentials, qualifications, and professional affiliations should be readily accessible. For instance, Alison M. Lopes is a Member of the Florida Bar, Orange County Bar, and Osceola County Bar. She is also a member of the Central Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Alison M. Lopes has over a decade of experience representing clients in various criminal and family matters. Contact our office today for a low-cost consultation to get started.
Clear and Consistent Communication
One of the most vital aspects of choosing a family law attorney is choosing someone who will regularly communicate with you and be there to answer your questions when you have them. When you work with a large national law firm, you’re often pushed to newer attorneys or other team members. When you choose a local law firm, you speak directly with our attorney and get personalized service. We’ll represent you throughout your case and provide frequent updates. In addition, you can contact us anytime you have questions or concerns.
Alison M. Lopes: Family Law Attorney in Central Florida
You need someone you can trust to help walk you through your case and ensure you get the best outcome for you and your family. Whether you need help modifying a parenting plan, filing for divorce, establishing paternity, or enforcing child support, we can help you achieve a fair outcome and keep your best interests in mind. Call our Osceola County family law office at 407-442-2724 today for a low-cost consultation.