You Have a Voice in Your Family Law Case

Although your attorney will make sure you are aware of your legal rights and help you litigate your case, it’s important to remember that you have a voice in your case. Your life is greatly impacted by the outcome of your case, so it’s crucial that you make an attempt to stay involved.

The following are several ways you can stay involved in your case:

Stay in Contact

First and foremost, it is important that you stay in regular contact with your attorney so he or she can communicate with you about your case and keep you informed of its status. The information you have is key to the success of your case. If your counsel attempts to get in touch with you, don’t postpone responding. They may have important updates to discuss with you.

Always keep your attorney apprised of your most up-to-date contact information so they can reach you. If you have difficulty reaching your attorney, or if you are difficult to reach before you get too far into the case make sure you find an effective way to communicate. Sometimes email is appropriate, but the method of contact should be determined with your attorney. Sometimes a phone call or face-to-face visit is what’s needed.

Don’t be afraid to request appropriate and effective communication that keeps you involved in your case.

Ask Questions

The legal world can be a confusing place. Sometimes, because your attorney deals with the law on a day-to-day basis, they may think you have a basic understanding of it as well. It’s important for you to understand the process, so ask questions when it comes to anything you aren’t clear on. Sometimes analogies or visual aids can help you better understand the process.

Don’t be afraid to tell your attorney that you don’t understand, it’s definitely worth having a further explanation than remaining in the dark.

Discuss Strategy

It’s smart to trust your attorney’s judgment on your case, but it’s okay to ask what other options are available, especially at a turning point in your case. You can also ask what makes them confident their strategy is the best way to proceed. Moreover, you are the one who likely knows the facts of your case better than anyone else. Such facts are crucial in determining how your case is handled. Be an involved member of the team that is handling your case.

Provide Evidence

Attorneys are knowledgeable, but they aren’t mind readers. If you have evidence you feel would make an impact on your case, submit it to your counsel. Disclose any evidence you have for your case so its relevancy can be determined. Don’t be afraid to ask your attorney about the type of evidence that is important to the various claims and issues of your case. If you understand the type of evidence, you can better know what is needed for your case to be successful.

Understand Deadlines

Any family law case is riddled with deadlines that can be detrimental to your case if missed. If you are asked to review a document, ask what the deadline is, then review and make changes in a timely manner so your attorney can be sure they are able to file prior to the deadline. Don’t leave changes to the last minute.

At Burton Law Firm, we work hard to ensure our clients are heard. We know your case is important to you. We understand that your input can be a powerful driving force in the outcome. Contact us today to discuss strategy on your case with one of our dedicated attorneys.

Kenneth Burton