Around 12% of Americans hire a lawyer in any given year. Over the course of a lifetime, most people still need the assistance of a lawyer at least once, and often multiple times.
If you’re thinking about becoming the guardian of a child, it’s important to have a lawyer help you through the process. Guardianship is complicated, and there are many things that can go wrong along the way. When your application is rejected, it can be emotionally devastating for you and the child.
At The Law Office of André J. Ausseresses, APC, we understand that hiring a lawyer is a new experience for many people. After realizing that you need one, it can be difficult to determine who you should hire for the job.
Here are a few tips to follow to maximize your chances of getting the right lawyer to represent your guardianship application and case.
Arrange a Time to Speak with or Meet the Lawyer
It’s extremely important to feel relaxed and comfortable with your lawyer. If you don’t enjoy speaking to your lawyer or you don’t feel like they understand you, your guardianship application may not go as smoothly as you hope.
The more comfortable you are with your family, the better your conversations will be. And the more you’re able to talk freely and openly, the more information they can get from you to help increase the odds of your guardianship application being approved.
Speaking with your lawyer on the phone is better than email, but an in-person visit is even better. Ideally, the firm should offer a free initial consultation so that you can get a feel for the legal team without feeling pressured to hire or knowing you’re going to be billed.
Assess Their Communication with You
Communication is of the utmost importance in all legal matters between attorneys and clients, especially in guardianship cases. Successful applications are ones where attorneys not only ask for but get the information they need from their clients in a timely manner, while also making themselves available to answer questions and address concerns.
When reaching out to law firms, look for ones that prioritize you as a client and that seem genuinely interested in your story and your goal. If you call after hours and leave a message, do they get back to you the next day, or do they go days without contacting you? The more that a firm appreciates you as a potential client, the better and more personalized legal representation they’ll provide.
Research Their Background and Credentials
Many law firms will agree to handle a guardianship case, but they may have very little experience handling such cases. Others may offer guardianship services but it’s not something they focus on, which means their guardianship clients get pushed to the back of the line and far behind more “profitable” cases.
In addition to looking for a firm with experience handling guardianship cases, it’s important to find one that has deep knowledge of California family law. Simply finding a California-based attorney doesn’t always mean they have the knowledge you need, either. Many attorneys move to California to start their practices, but they lack the years of experience with the state’s family law system to succeed.
Check Their Reviews
It’s one thing for a law firm to tell you about their track record of success and expertise. But the real proof comes from their previous clients. Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to find out if a law firm is the real deal or just has a slick website and big advertising budget.
When reading reviews, look specifically for reviews mentioning guardianships and family law. Many firms have a lot of positive reviews, but only for specific practice areas. It’s important to find a firm that knows how to help people with their guardianship applications throughout every step of the process.
Our California Family Law Attorneys Are Here to Help
At The Law Office of André J. Ausseresses, APC, we work hard to earn the trust of our clients. We know that family law is a sensitive matter, and becoming the guardian of a child can be one of life’s biggest milestones. We don’t take the trust that our clients place in us lightly when they hire us to represent them during their journeys towards guardianship.
If you need help becoming a guardian, we want to assist you on this noble cause. Contact us today for a free initial consultation. We know that you’re facing a monumental decision and legal process, but we want you to know that you don’t have to go it alone.
Free Initial Consultation
Helping you through family law matters such as divorce, domestic violence, legal guardianship, child support, child custody, visitation rights, alimony and more.
Serving all of Orange County, California.
Call: (949) 244-8871