FAQ: Why Hire a Local Family Law Attorney in Orange County, California?
When you are looking for a family lawyer in California, you are probably already considering attorneys who practice family law, specifically the type of law that your case involves. You may also be concerned with your budget, and finding an attorney who can work within your financial situation.
Trying to find the best attorney may mean that you have cast a wide net, to attorneys across California. The more you have to choose from, the better your chances of finding a great attorney, right?
Remember that there are numerous benefits to limiting your search to attorneys in your area, whether that is your town or your county. Orange County, California has a wide selection of highly qualified family lawyers.
You have access to reviews by previous family law clients
One of the first things you should look for, before meeting with an attorney, is reviews from others whose cases they have handled that were similar to yours. If you have friends, family, neighbors, or local professionals with whom you do business, they are more likely to give you an honest review of an attorney than someone on the internet, who may have other motivations or standards different from your own.
One of the first things you should look for, before meeting with an attorney, is reviews from others whose cases they have handled that were similar to yours. If you have friends, family, neighbors, or local professionals with whom you do business, they are more likely to give you an honest review of an attorney than someone on the internet, who may have other motivations or standards different from your own.
While you are looking for an attorney, ask people you know for reviews of attorneys with whom they have worked in the past - a great attorney might be closer than you think.
Your lawyer is familiar with the local family courts
California law dictates the majority of family law, and any lawyer in California will have the same basic eligibility to practice law in California. However, some issues like child support or child custody may vary by county.
A local family lawyer who has worked in the Orange County family courts in the past will understand how the system works, and how to best prepare you and your case for the Orange County courts.
A local attorney has a relationship with prosecutors, judges and other Orange County lawyers
Local family attorneys will have worked with the legal professionals in your local court system in the past, and are likely to have professional and personal business relationships
No matter how direct the law may be, every judge, every prosecutor, every attorney and every court clerk is a unique person with his or her own personality, pet peeves, ideas, and preferences. A local attorney will have worked with the legal professionals in your local court system in the past, and is likely to have professional and/or personal relationships with them.
Through these relationships, your attorney is likely to understand better which judges are likely to be more or less sympathetic to which types of cases. This may mean that an older judge is more old fashioned, and is therefore likely to favor old fashioned traditions. A judge who grew up in a home with domestic violence is likely to be in favor of denying spousal support to a person with a history of abuse or violence. A local lawyer who has worked with this judge in the past will know this ahead of time, and will know how to better prepare your case in advance.
Most people hire local lawyers. Your attorney has probably worked with or competed against other attorneys in your area, which provides you with two major benefits.
First, if you need to find another lawyer, yours can recommend other local attorneys with whom you can work. For example, if you and your spouse choose to use divorce mediation to work through your divorce, you will need to hire an experienced divorce mediator in addition to a divorce attorney. One local attorney can refer you to another, so that each attorney can fill a separate role.
Second, a local attorney is likely to know the lawyer hired by the opposing party in your case. For example, if you hire a lawyer in your divorce case, and your spouse or partner also hires an attorney, the chance is greater that they know one another if you hire a local attorney. Your attorney is likely to have an understanding of the opposing counsel’s style, which allows you to better prepare your case.
A local CA lawyer values his reputation in your community
Local Orange County CA family lawyers are part of your community and are perhaps recommended by word of mouth
A lawyer who practices family law in Orange County probably lives in Orange County, does his or her grocery shopping in Orange County, may have family in Orange County, and is likely involved in his or her community within Orange County. The majority of the attorney’s clients probably live in Orange County, and in order to remain successful in his or her practice, the attorney will place value on his or her reputation within the community.
As such, hiring an Orange County family lawyer means that the lawyer will do everything he or she can to provide you with the best legal advice possible, and will maintain a professional level of service.
This is not to say that an attorney who is not local won’t act professionally or do his or her best to provide you with great legal advice. However, a local attorney has more incentive to leave you happy.
It is easier to meet with a local OC attorney
You will likely need to spend time with your lawyer outside of the courtroom. Both you and your family lawyer will have other things going on, and hiring a local family law attorney will make it easier for both of you to arrange meetings since you have less distance to travel to do so.
You’ll save money with a local family lawyer
Local family attorneys will usually not charge you for travel expenses
By hiring a local family lawyer in Orange County, you will save on basic costs like meals, travel costs, and hotels for when your attorney meets with you or others who are involved in your case. If you require meetings with other professionals during your case, like a child custody professional, a local attorney is likely to have relationships with local professionals, which also saves money on their travel expenses (which would come out of your pocket).
Hire a Local Family Lawyer in Orange County
