When you married, you likely could not wait to have children. You may have pictured you, your spouse, and your children going on family vacations, attending sporting events, eating dinner together and various other picture-perfect scenarios. While you may have experienced some of those events, you now face a more difficult situation because you and the other parent are divorcing.
Unfortunately, your situation may have turned hostile before the decision to divorce took place, and now you have serious concerns about child custody arrangements. You may believe that your children would not be safe with the other parent or that he or she generally lacks the ability to properly care for your kids. If you want sole custody, you likely have a difficult path to face.
Having the right help
Of course, you do not have to go through any aspect of divorce proceedings on your own. If you anticipate a difficult child custody case, you undoubtedly want to have the right help for your particular predicament. As a result, you may find yourself exploring options for a family law attorney.
Having legal counsel during this time could make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case. When looking for an attorney, you may want to consider the following steps:
- Obtain references for California attorneys. You may want to speak with court clerks, friends and family members who have faced similar situations, other parents who have cases underway, and the state bar association.
- Because your attorney will work for you, you may want to conduct an interview period. By speaking with multiple candidates, you can determine with whom you have similar personality traits and style and whose experience with this type of case helps you feel comfortable.
- You may also want to explore the attorney directory to understand your candidates’ reputations and standings with the state bar.
- You may also want to remember that because your attorney works for you, you can end the attorney-client relationship if you feel that he or she is not meeting your needs or expectations.
Having to fight for custody of your children is already a stressful situation, and you undoubtedly do not want the ordeal made more difficult by a lack of appropriate help. Exploring your legal options in regard to counsel and presenting your arguments in court could help you feel more prepared as your case proceeds.