Germantown Family Law Firm Providing Legal Support and Services for Clients Throughout Maryland

Divorce and custody matters are often the first thing many of us think of when it comes to case types a family law attorney handles. While it is true that divorces make up a large portion of what a family law attorney deals with, there is a lot more they can do to assist you with all things related to family relationships. At Paré & Associates, LLC, you can count on our legal team every step of the way – no matter if you are writing a prenuptial agreement, filing for divorce, or dealing with child custody matters. Here are some other important considerations about family law lawyers in Germantown.

What Kind of Cases Does a Family Law Attorney Handle?

Family law attorneys handle a wide variety of issues that affect families in different ways. Clients may turn to a family law attorney when they are making plans to start a life together and would like to draft a prenuptial agreement, for example. A family law attorney also works to assist clients through times of conflict, such as initiating a divorce or an action for child support and custody.

A family law attorney can be instrumental in helping mothers or fathers stand up for their parental rights and protect the rights of their children when child support or custody modification is necessary. When a divorce is inevitable, a family law attorney can be a fundamental part of your team and help you fight for a favorable outcome.

How Can a Family Law Lawyer Assist Me With a Difficult Divorce?

A divorce can be a difficult situation emotionally, and it is easy to feel a lot of pressure, fear, and even become overwhelmed – after all, there is so much at stake. Your future, your children, and your assets are all on the line. If your marriage is not salvageable and divorce is the only option, you need an attorney who can act as your ally and guide you through this process.

It can be hard to keep a clear mind and think objectively while trying to handle your ex’s demands and threats. Your attorney can handle all communication with your ex on your behalf. In addition, your attorney takes care of all formalities, from filing the appropriate forms to appearing with you in court. Your attorney has likely handled many similar cases in the past, and can apply what he or she learned to protect your best interests and that of your children during the divorce process.

It is not uncommon for a couple to rush into making important decisions that may affect them for years to come. By leveraging the knowledge and experience of a family law attorney, you can get help making big decisions objectively without hurting your financial integrity or the well-being of your children. An attorney can be an important piece of the puzzle even if you don’t end up going to court and are able to settle your differences and agree on the terms of your dissolution without needing a judge.

Another example of how a family law attorney can help you with a difficult divorce is by bringing in experts and consultants when necessary. Sometimes, an expert witness such as a mental health professional, physician or even financial specialist can be brought in to provide their testimony and help you build a stronger argument. Skilled family law attorneys not only know a series of experts, but they may also have professional relationships with the attorneys your ex is working with, and can leverage those professional relationships to negotiate a favorable outcome for both parties.

What Can a Family Law Attorney Do to Help Resolve a Child Custody Battle?

While child custody matters are ultimately decided by a judge, having an attorney on your side can help you build a strong argument to defend your parental rights. You may also need to defend yourself from untrue or exaggerated claims from your ex-partner, and your attorney can help you show the judge your ex is trying to make you look bad or making false claims to gain an advantage in the process. Whenever possible, a family law attorney can help you negotiate a parenting plan and reach an agreement without ever going to court.

If going to court is necessary, your attorney will know how to file the required paperwork and assist you through the process. He or she can provide you and any witnesses with coaching and guidance before a court appearance, give you more information on the judge that has been assigned to your case, and even advise you on what type of evidence is admissible in court and what you should or should not say. Something as simple as showing pictures of your ex-partying as proof of bad parenting may be seen by the judge as a display of anger and resentment on your part instead. Your attorney can advise you on how to act so you can represent yourself as a good parent and take the right steps to maximize the chances that your child custody battle will be decided in your favor.

Why Is Hiring an Attorney Better Than Representing Myself in a Family Law Case?

Many people worry about the costs of hiring an attorney for their family law case and consider choosing self-representation in an attempt to simplify the process and reduce their costs. While individuals have the right to represent themselves in court, doing so may be risky and end up being more costly than hiring an attorney in some cases. If your case needs to go to court, there are a series of steps and formalities that need to be fulfilled before the court will even hear your case. You need to file the right forms at the right time and place, and if you don’t follow the correct procedures, your case could be dismissed, or worse – your ex could end up winning the case. If that happens, there is always a possibility that the other party may order you to pay for their legal fees.

In court, a judge will likely not make any concessions or advocate for either party regardless of whether they are representing themselves or not. In other words, it may not make much sense to try and represent yourself with the goal of expecting leniency from the judge, and from a cost-savings standpoint, parties who self-represent may often end up making costly mistakes or end up being unable to build a strong case to tell their side of their story in an objective manner. It may also be more difficult to recruit expert witnesses when an attorney is not overseeing your case. There are many reasons why representing yourself may not end up working in your favor.

Whether you are having a tough divorce or a heated child custody and support battle, an attorney can help you with essential tasks such as gathering important evidence, coaching you when it is time to make important decisions, and helping you stay clear-minded and objective amidst the emotional turmoil that often comes with family law cases.

At Paré & Associates, LLC, our attorneys work to represent you and protect your interests, always looking for ways to settle your case quickly so as to spare you from a long-winded battle. We understand not every case can be solved amicably, and we will be happy to fiercely represent you in court if necessary. Our legal team and attorneys have handled a significant number of family law cases in the past, and we are ready to apply our knowledge to help you fight for a positive outcome. We understand what it takes to go through a divorce or child custody battle – and how emotionally draining it can be.

Our attorneys have spent many hours in the courtroom, have a deep and thorough understanding of the Maryland Family Law Code, and are highly-skilled in employing effective negotiation and argumentation strategies. There is no reason to fight it all on your own – having a strong legal team on your side may just make all the difference in your case.

We know the decision of hiring a family law attorney may not be easy for everyone, so we invite you to contact us at our Germantown office and request an initial no-commitment consultation to discuss your case and get your questions answered. We look forward to speaking to you to learn more about your case and explain the many ways we can help you maximize the chances of getting the positive results you want. Call Paré & Associates, LLC today at (301) 515-1190 to schedule a free consultation.