Family Law is where the bottom 10%ers of the legal profession end up. Both attorneys and Judges.
With a few refreshing exceptions. At least in my experience.
The key to success (that I have found) is to find an attorney that starts your first consultation with something similar to the following questions.
1. Are you doing this for the best interest of the kid(s) or to stick it to BioMom/BioDad? (our guy kicks people out of his office if they answer this one wrong)
2. How important is this for you to pursue? It could be very expensive.
3. What exactly are you looking to accomplish and are you willing to consider my suggestions if I don't believe what you are looking for is reasonable or can be accomplished?
After several years and many, many, many thousands of dollars on bottom 10%er loser Family Law attorneys who did a poor job at best we found an attorney that asked us these questions. I put him on retainer on the spot and we have kept using him for our Son's (My SS)case ever since. He is also a good estate and inheritance attorney and successfully represented us and others in an action with our neighborhoods HOA. We have also referred many family and friends to him. In every litigation or court application we have used him in we have kicked the ass of the Blended Family Opposition (or anyone else for that matter). Usually with out having to go to court. He just sends SpermDad a letter outlining exactly what we expect him to do and what will be presented in court if he does not comply. BioDad then promptly folds most of the time.
BioDad has 4 out-of-wedlock spawn by three different mothers (two underage when the kids were born and while the SpermIdiot was well into his 20's) and he and his Mommy are like fish flopping around on hot pavement trying to weasel him out of his responsibilities to his children. My SS is his oldest and an only child in our home.
So, shop around and if you smell a bottom 10%er keep looking.
As for Family Law Judges .......... anyone who sits on a bench in a goofy black robe and uses the the phrase "I hope everyone is happy after a long day of bitching. Now I am going to do what I always do." had to have cheated their way through law school and must have pictures of some very powerful people in compromising naked positions with barn yard animals or bribed a bunch of people to get on the bench. The worthless asshole had to be getting a cut of the legal fees paid to the idiot attorneys and was hell bent on keeping everyone in court as long as possible then not even considering any of the testimony presented.
IDIOTS!
Just my layman's opinion and to my best knowledge of course.
I posted this one to the Family Law forum.
I did not realize it would go to the general forum also.
Sorry for the repeat to those who have read my earlier renditions of this.
Success is rarely final. Failure is rarely fatal. It is character, courage and consistency of effort that count. Vince Lombardi (with some minor Rags modifications)
Unfortunate, but true...
When a new client would come to see DH for a consultation (civil litigation, not family law), and they were very upset and demanded "justice", he would explain the ins and outs of their situation. A large portion would say "it's not the money, it's the principle", and want DH to fight tooth and nail for their cause. That would last for the first three or four billing cycles, and then suddenly, principles weren't as important to them.
He tries to help people whenever he can, he'll give a $ break where ever possible, as long as the clients aren't taking advantage. He's had to tell a couple of late payers "I can either worry about your case, or worry about being paid - it's up to you".
He won't defend drug dealers, pedifiles, or rapists. He's done it, and hated it. He detests family law (agrees it's a money making machine, we've spent in excess of $50,000 in the past 2 years alone.), he pretty much sticks to insurance and civil now.
Good for your DH and to you for getting a good one.
I have several friends who are attorneys and I keep flirting with Law School myself. My wife and I have discussed going back to school together for Law. It is the family law fee soakers and drama lawyers that I have a problem with.
If I go to Law School my intent is to go later in my career and when I retire from corporate America to teach at a small college (Management and Consulting) and do Pro Bono work representing quality low income BioParents/Sparents while being a complete pain in the ass for the idiot Blended Family Opposition.
Hey, I have to keep myself stimulated in retirement or I will drive my Wife crazy.
Success is rarely final. Failure is rarely fatal. It is character, courage and consistency of effort that count. Vince Lombardi (with some minor Rags modifications)
Lately, he's been thinking
Of dabbling a "bit" in family law, mainly father's rights. Or doing some Pro Bono for fathers fighting for custody/access. We've talked about it, and how many good fathers can't afford decent representation, the attorney we had had a $20,000 retainer, and that's just not do-able for many people.
We'll have to see how it goes.