How To Choose A Family Law Attorney In Portland, OR
Looking for a family law attorney in Portland? We can help!
Sometimes, you find yourself in situations where your best option is to get the advice of legal counsel. While that sounds simple in theory, in practice it can be downright overwhelming.
Most people don’t have an attorney on retainer. Heck, many people don’t even know an attorney, so when they find themselves in situations where they actually need one, they don’t always know where to turn.
At DBMA, we pride ourselves in not only giving our clients the legal counsel they deserve, but also in providing our community with the resources they need in order to protect their rights when it comes to family law matters.
So, if you’re wondering how to choose a family law attorney in Portland, Oregon, look no further. DBMA is here to help you find the right representation for your needs!
Make sure your attorney specializes in what you need
This might sound obvious, but there is an incredibly diverse range of specialties in the world of law — constitutional law, intellectual property law, bankruptcy law, environmental law, family law, estate planning, real estate — the list truly goes on and on.
So, while you of course want to make certain that your potential attorney specializes in family law, you’ll also want to make certain that the law firm you’re considering specializes in your particular need.
Family issues can include divorce, prenuptial agreements, adoption, surrogacy, child custody arrangements, wills, paternity, collaborative divorce, and more, but not all family law firms necessarily specialize in all of those areas.
Do your due diligence and make certain that those you’re considering really do offer what you need.
And while you can go with a generalist, be aware that this could potentially draw out the process, which could lead to higher costs and possibly even outcomes that you might not see if you were to hire a specialist.
Make sure your attorney has a good reputation
Once upon a time, if you were searching for the “best” family law attorney, you either had to rely on word of mouth, or you had to be lucky enough to have someone refer you to someone they trusted. Either that, or you simply had to roll the dice and hope that your representation was truly as good as they claimed to be.
Now, with the help of the internet, online reviews, and other resources, you have a much easier way of searching for attorneys that not only specialize in your particular need, but you can see how people actually rate their experiences with their attorneys.
While online reviews are not necessarily the last word on how effective a firm will be in serving your needs, an attorney with consistently bad reviews across platforms might be an indication that you should be cautious in hiring them.
Make sure your attorney is a great communicator
When people find themselves in situations where they need legal advice, more often than not they’re in a place where they need to be listened to, supported, and given the confidence to move forward.
We would encourage you to pay close attention to how your potential family lawyer communicates with you right from the get-go.
If you’ve filled out a form online, how long did they take to get back to you? If you called, how did their front office staff make you feel? If you had a consultation with them, did you feel like you were truly heard?
While many lawyers are working with many clients, you should never feel like you’re just another number. Our goal at DBMA is to support you at the highest possible level, because, frankly, that’s what you deserve!
Make sure you feel compatible with your attorney
Your potential attorney might have the right specialties, be highly regarded by their peers and clients, and be a great communicator, but, for whatever reason, you just don’t feel comfortable with them.
Since the family law process is typically one where clients and attorneys must closely collaborate on issues that are often highly sensitive in nature, we would encourage you to trust your gut and choose someone who you feel you can trust and identify with.
The legal process can be a journey. Pick a partner you want to travel with.
Make sure your attorney is clear about pricing and payment
There are some aspects of how much you’ll have to pay your attorney that are unclear. For instance, the longer a divorce settlement or custody dispute goes on, the more you might be facing in terms of fees.
However, your attorney should be very clear about these possibilities, and should, at the very least, be able to provide you with a range of possibilities so that you’re not surprised by hidden legal fees that you weren’t expecting and might not be able to afford.
Need even more family law advice? Choose DBMA?
At DBMA, we’re a women-driven, family-focused law firm in Portland, Oregon that is dedicated to helping our clients achieve the best possible outcomes in their legal disputes.