Making the decision to speak to a family and divorce lawyer in Oshawa Superior Court and other surround Courting locations is a big step. Many people feel nervous or overwhelmed when considering speaking with a family and divorce lawyer and it can be stressful to attend an initial consultation with a lawyer. Preparation can help to calm any anxieties you might be feeling. It is recommended that you gather and organize your relevant documents (such as income and tax documents, mortgage and/or lease agreements, any previous Court Orders or Separation Agreements, etc.). Being organized before your initial consultation with any potential family and divorce lawyer will make it easier for you to secure answers to many of your questions.
How Long Have You Been In Practice?
Experience is very important when it comes to family law. An attorney who’s been resolving these types of conflicts for years may be better prepared to suggest more specialized and/or creative solutions for your specific circumstances.
Is This One of Your Specialties?
Before retaining a lawyer, you should consider that some lawyers practice different or several types of law but there are lawyers that focus specifically in one arear of practice, such as family and divorce lawyers. Depending on your matter, it may be beneficial to retain a lawyer that focuses primarily in family law.
Also, you should feel comfortable asking questions not only about the lawyer but the team that the lawyer works with, i.e., paralegals, law clerks, any other associate/junior lawyers that may work with the lawyer you are speaking with.
How Long Will It Take to Go Through a Divorce?
This is easily one of the most common questions for prospective clients seeking assistance in their family and divorce law matters. While every matter is unique, family and divorce law matters in Oshawa Superior Court and other surrounding Court locations, or other matters that may not require litigation, the time it takes to complete matters depends on several factors, including but not limited to whether parties are potentially amicable, whether there are children that require care and decisions that may evolve with each passing month/year and whether there are an abundance of assets, debts, concerns with income and financial disclosure, etc. People often worry about how stressful the procedure can be.
Less contentious matters typically require less time to narrow and resolve and it is important to focus on working cooperatively to get the most expeditious resolution possible.
When a family and divorce law matter involve parties and lawyers that can work together, make compromises and focus on a resolution, then the entire process can run smoother. However, it should be known that even the most amicable of matters can still take weeks or even months to completely resolve.
Ask About Communication and Billing Practices
Ask about the type of communication and the frequency you can expect during the process with a family and divorce lawyer in Oshawa Superior Court and surrounding Court locations. Setting some realistic expectations on what is considered reasonable communication between a lawyer and client permits both parties to better understand how the matter will proceed and how communication patterns/expectations may impact your legal fees. It is also important to find out if the lawyer has a good support team who can handle some of your questions when the lawyer is indisposed or not required for more procedural type questions.
A strong legal team that delegates work on your matter can ensure your matter is advancing in a timely manner and with manageable legal fees combined with the client having reasonable expectations and being informed of the status and next steps of their matter.
Ask About The Children
Child custody (now referred to as decision-making and care time with the children) and general parenting matters are considered some of the most difficult matters in family and divorce law due to the obvious emotional component of most parenting matters. On all parenting matters, while the terms is sometimes misused and/or abused during litigation, it is always important to note that the child’s best interests are paramount. Talk to your lawyer about the expectations you have for custody and parenting issues. The current Divorce Act and Family Law Act maintains a focus on the child’s best interests and assists in better understanding the goal to resolve parenting issues, including but not limited to decision-making, parenting and care time with the child(ren) and support for the child(ren).
Looking for a family and divorce lawyer in Oshawa? McDermott Family Law understands how emotionally complicated these matters can be. The services provided by Mr. McDermott and his legal team are based on attention to detail and value to the client. Call now to schedule a consultation and allow McDermott Family Law to reduce the stress of taking the next steps with your separation and/or divorce process.