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FAQs
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Family Law clients at Rowley Chapman Barney & Buntrock receive aggressive, personal service, with excellent results. If you face a contested, complicated divorce involving the division of major assets or valuation of a business, our attorneys will maximize your recovery and secure spousal maintenance awards. In custody cases, our attorneys commit to achieving arrangements that secure your children's best interests.
Types of Cases
- Divorce actions, Property settlement, Child custody and support, Paternity, Adoption, Post-dissolution custody
- Enforcement of decree
Tips (This information does not represent comprehensive legal advice)
- Talk to a counselor, someone who is experienced and educated in the field of mental health. Attempt to work through your marital issues through counseling and try to save the marriage. This often can be done free of charge through church organizations and family services. In addition, many insurance plans provide counseling services as part of their insurance benefit. If counseling is not successful, the husband and wife should attempt to communicate between themselves as best as possible, expressing their concerns and feelings.
- Do not involve children in divorce matters. Parents should not involve the children in the divorce process. Parents should avoid at all costs the devastating effects of parental alienation syndrome.
- If parents are unable to resolve their differences through personal communication, through counseling and social service organizations, and they feel like a divorce is imminent, they should contact an attorney for an initial consultation. Most attorneys will provide an initial consultation for less than their hourly rates. Some provide consultations free of charge, and others charge up to $100 for that consultation. When selecting an attorney, you may want to ask for recommendations from friends, contact the State Bar, or look for the attorney in the Martindale Hubbell directory. The yellow pages also provide a directory of attorneys that advertise in the yellow pages, and now, with the advent of the Internet, many attorneys can be found online.
- When you consult an attorney for the first time, be prepared to provide basic information. It is helpful to gather copies of financial documents. For instance, the deed to your home, deed to other real property, copies of the last two (2) tax returns and financial statements that you may have filled out.
- Determine exactly what the fees are. The attorney you select should be able to explain all aspects of a divorce from beginning to end. He or she should also be able to explain how much he/she bills at an hourly rate, and whether or not the client pays for costs and what those costs are. Some attorney's bill at a flat fee. However, the norm is to be billed on an hourly basis. Family Law attorneys do not bill on a percentage of the estate or the outcome of the case. Typically, attorneys will bill at an hourly rate, and those hourly rates differ from firm to firm (anywhere from $100 up to $400 per hour for attorneys, and $0 to $150 per hour for paralegals).
- Ensure confidentiality and be open about your situation. Your attorney should be candid with you about your rights, and anything you discuss with your attorney is covered under the attorney-client privilege. It is very important that you are open and honest with your attorney. What you tell your attorney is confidential and protected from disclosure later, even if you choose not to retain your attorney. Most attorneys, after the initial consultation will present the client with enough information to determine if now is the time to approach the divorce or if it's better to wait. Generally, clients should not necessarily commit that date to their attorney. It is helpful to go home, think about what has been discussed, and make sure that the attorney is the right one for your case.
Attorneys:
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