Facing the prospect of a divorce or another type of family law proceeding, you may have questions about the type of attorney who handles these matters. A segment of the bar in the United States confines its practice to representing individuals with these legal issues.
Function
The function of divorce and family law attorneys is to represent individuals facing proceedings or legal issues arising out of family relationships, according to "Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce" by Emily Doskow. These include divorce as well as child custody, visitation and financial support cases.
Specialization
Some divorce and family law attorneys specialize even further. For example, some lawyers in this practice area exclusively represent clients with child custody problems. Others represent either men or women in divorce proceedings. Still others who practice in the family law arena do post-divorce matters of different types, including enforcing the provisions of divorce decrees.
Misconceptions
A common misconception is that divorce and family law attorneys have a special license to practice in this area of the law. No such licensing is required. Some attorneys, however, do obtain special training and earn certification acknowledging their additional education.
Benefits
Retaining a divorce and family law attorney helps the client in several ways. Because of the lawyer's experience and specialization, the client obtains the benefits of a professional who understands not only applicable law but also the procedures specific to the family law system. Additionally, a divorce and family law attorney's familiarity with individual family court judges and their expectations can benefit the client.
Resources
The American Bar Association, or ABA, maintains a no-cost service for consumers through which they can obtain contact information for state and local bar organizations. These groups provide directories of attorneys in different practice areas, including those who practice divorce and family law.
References
- American Bar Association: Section of Family Law
- "The Complete Divorce Handbook: A Practical Guide"; Brette McWhorter Sember; 2009
- "Nolo's Essential Guide to Divorce"; Emily Doskow; 2008
