An Overview of Family Law Services
Family law in North Carolina encompasses a wide range of services related to domestic relations and the family unit as a whole. The most common issue relating to divorce is "equitable distribution of assets", which is essentially the division of assets and liabilities. Divorce is also generally accompanied by child related issues, such as child custody, child support, and visitation.
The child custody determination process may be one of the most difficult and stressful situations parents will face in the legal system, but the premise of custody is that the best interests of the child are of utmost importance. Parental rights may be terminated for severe, serious reasons such as abuse, abandonment, neglect, etc . , but regardless of whether you are a biological or adoptive parent, if you are currently acting as a parent or taking care of the child virtually your entire life, there is an avenue to establish yourself as having parental rights.
Another common issue is alimony, which is awarded to one spouse dependent upon a number of factors, and generally based on the financial conditions and established standard of living of both spouses.
Adoption services may depend on whether the adoption is a "relative adoption" or an "agency adoption"; however, the goal is the same, to assist the family through legal processes with respect to the adoption of a minor child or adult. Other family law services include drafting Powers of Attorney, Separation and Property Settlement Agreements, drafting and/or negotiating Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements, Divorce Proceedings, and Protective Orders.
Benefits of a Free Consultation
The consultation process has many benefits for potential clients and attorneys. Often, initial consultations are provided for free, whether in-person or via telephone. This can be incredibly helpful in determining the best approach to your problem and finding an attorney that matches your needs. Many free consultations last at least 30 minutes but can be longer if necessary. A good family law consultant should address all your concerns, but not hesitate to refer you out if needed. In addition, the attorney should be well-informed and competitive in fees. Compare new lawyers rates to the average rates of experienced, similar attorneys. There are many ways a law firm can reduce fees without sacrificing quality and saving you money. For instance, using efficient technology and automation provides greater service at lower rates. This shows that attorneys are upfront and responsible with their business plans, and willing to pass the savings on to their clients. There are many advantages to having a free consultation with a family law attorney. You can get a better understanding of your legal situation and whether that particular attorney is right for you. Your first point-of-contact is crucial. From the receptionist, intake staff, and attorneys, everyone should be welcoming and interested in your case.
What to Look for in a Family Law Lawyer
When searching for the best Charlotte NC family law attorneys, it is vital to know some key traits that reliable family law lawyers should possess. You may be a spouse who is going through a complicated divorce. You may also be a parent who is looking for assistance related to a modification of your child’s visitation schedule. Regardless of your unique situation, you need a skilled legal professional who can provide you with meaningful help.
A major factor to consider when selecting the best family law attorney in Charlotte, NC is his or her level of experience. An experienced attorney can handle complex family law cases, and a long track record of success is a clear indicator of expertise. A family law attorney who has been providing quality legal service for many years will have solid knowledge of the law and a specific insight into how family law issues tend to be handled in Charlotte.
In addition to possessing experience, a quality family law attorney will have a specialization that makes him or her an expert in the field. Does the attorney you are considering specialize in family law issues? If so, you will know that you are working with an attorney who can provide a thorough understanding of the matter at hand.
The best family law attorney will have testimonials from previous clients, as this will be an indicator of the type of client experience that he or she can provide. If other clients have been happy working with a particular attorney, you will likely want to consider working with him or her as well.
Finally, a quality family law attorney will have an understanding of the Charlotte legal environment. This means that the lawyer will understand North Carolina laws related to family matters, and he or she will have established relationships with the local judges and court staff. In turn, this means that a local attorney will be able to provide more direct assistance related to your case.
Keep these tips in mind when considering a Charlotte, NC family law attorney.
How Best to Prepare for Your Family Law Consultation
Although a prospective client often knows the subject matter to discuss at the free consultation, I have found that they frequently do not know what documents to bring to aid in the discussion. As a new client, I suggest that you bring in any pleadings which have been initiated by you or by your spouse or former spouse. These are often entitled "Complaint" or "Motion for Child Support" or "Counterclaim." If you have a file folder with these documents, bring it in with you. Don’t forget documents relating to real estate and business interests as well. It is helpful to organize the folder chronologically so that the attorney can see what has happened over time. You do not, however, need to bring in every bit of correspondence or the numerous telephone call notes you may have jotted down in the folder. Keeping those organized at home can be invaluable during the case. If you can just locate the one or two key letters that are important to your case, that is all an attorney needs to see during the initial meeting. It is also helpful when preparing for the consultation to jot down some questions you may have about the process. Think about what concerns you have about the case and the information needed to work through the legal issues. Determine what you are seeking and what you have already told other attorneys and what you think might be confidential. Finally, you may wish to find out from your friends who have met with attorneys before what they thought was useful in their consultations. Determine what you think is important in choosing an attorney. Ask yourself, "Am I comfortable negotiating with this person if court cannot resolve the matter?" This aside, what kind of experience does this person have? What is the fee for a retainer and what is the fee for ongoing work, if necessary? In what county does the lawyer typically practice? Does this person have time to commit to your case? Is the attorney going to have someone collect the information from me or will he or she be the only person working on the file? Many find it helpful to have a checklist to think through and organize prior to the consultation.
Top Family Law Firms in Charlotte with Free Consults
Most of the top family law firms in Charlotte are unbundled services law firms. Unbundled services means that they do not have traditional retainers and allow clients to use the lawyer’s services as needed and afford it. This is a huge change in the market, where the firms get large retainers in the beginning that cost the client a lot of money. Many of these top firms offer family law attorneys that will do free consultations. There are no obligation and no pressure from unbundled services firms. If you do not want to hire a family law attorney after your free phone consultation, you have no obligation to retain the firm.
List of some top family law firms offering free consultations in the Charlotte area:
Cuddy & Assocaites – The Cuddy law firm offers legal counsel for many family law matters. The firm counsels in matters such as divorce, adoption, child support, child custody, alimony and separation agreements. Consultations are free of charge with a family law attorney . You can schedule a consultation by calling (704) 362-2511 you can receive a 30 minute consultation over the phone or in person.
Tobin Spodick – Tobin Spodick specializes in family law matters. The firm provides effective counsel for matters such as child custody, child support, divorce, premarital agreement, property, equitable distribution, and spousal support. The firm offers free consultations where you can discuss your case with an experienced attorney. You can schedule a consultation through the firm’s website.
Clark Law Group – Clark Law Group is a family run law firm which provides family law legal counsel on matters such as divorce matters, child custody and visitation rights, child support, equable distribution, alimony, separation agreements. The firm understands how stressful these matters can be and offers free telephone consultations. You can schedule a consultation with the firm by calling (704) 375-0057.
Client Endorsements and Testimonials
While Charlotte divorce lawyers charge for the initial consultation, what if you’ve already had a free consultation with another law firm or if you are really unsure if you can afford a Charlotte family lawyer? There are other options. Whether it’s in your home state or out of state, The Bindrup Law Firm offers free consultations to out of state clients and to those who are experiencing financial difficulties. Everyone deserves access to legal counsel. "No amount of money or special circumstances should stand in the way of a parent going to court to fight for their child," Charlotte family attorney Glen A. Bindrup says. "If you are a resident of Charlotte or the surrounding area, or if you are visiting from out of state or out of the country, and you are facing a family law matter, speak with me and see how I can help you." Charlotte family law attorney Glen A. Bindrup has helped clients with many different types of family law issues, ranging from divorce to child custody, child support and guardianship. The difference he has made in the lives of his clients has resulted in many positive reviews and testimonials. Here are a few: "Mr. Bindrup represented me in my divorce. From the very first phone call to the last email, email correspondence it was clear that I was in very capable hands. He is an extremely knowledgeable lawyer who is very straightforward and direct in his communication with you. He has your best interests at heart while maintaining the utmost professionalism. From start to finish he was amazing, and I highly recommend him." "Glen fought for the best outcome for me in my divorce and got the result I wanted! He was direct, honest and kept me from spending more money than needed. I have recommended him to two friends and he has been great for them too. If you have ever been involved in a family legal matter you know how stressful it can be. I am happy to say Glen helped mitigate that stress and complete my divorce in an expeditious manner." "Glen recently represented me in my divorce case. He is a very competent, knowledgeable and professional lawyer. Glen was extremely well organized and precise in presenting my case, and unrelenting in achieving a successful outcome. I will say Glen definitely made a very unpleasant and emotional process less stressful and chaotic. I highly recommend Glen as a family lawyer." "Glen represented my husband and me in our uncontested adoption process for my young niece and I cannot say enough nice things about him. He was very professional, personable, and more than willing to answer any and all questions we had. As this was our first adoption, we did not know what to expect. Glen walked us through the process and made it really easy on us. I highly recommend him!"
Conclusion and Next Steps
You can see from the information above that there are many options for those looking for a free consultation in Charlotte, NC with a family law attorney. The important thing to remember is that when it comes to choosing a family law attorney is that you should be very comfortable with them. If you have met with a couple or more of the free consultation options and are not impressed with your choices , then keep looking. You should be completely comfortable with the attorney that you will be hiring as they will be helping you navigate a very difficult time in your life.