Extended lockdowns in Sydney resulted in a surge in divorce rates in 2021; the crude divorce rate was 2.2 for every 1000 people in 2021, the highest since 2012. These failed marriages have the most devastating impact on children as parents fight for their custody. Hence, it is one of the most critical issues in divorce or family law. That’s why it’s essential to find the best child custody lawyer in Sydney to advocate for you and your child. But how do you know if a prospective attorney has the experience, understanding, communication skills and specialised knowledge to help you achieve your goals? For that, you need to read the following section.
Experience
The experience of lawyers matters because it gives them a better understanding of the court system and judges you will be dealing with and help you through your case.
A good way to evaluate whether or not a lawyer has enough experience is by seeing other cases they have worked on before. If they have worked on similar cases in the past, they will also know what needs to be done for your case.
Understanding
The legal system in Australia granted over 56000 divorces in 2021, which is a 13.6 per cent increase from the previous year. Hence you can see the market teeming with lawyers. But to choose the best child custody lawyer in Sydney, you must first understand what makes a good one.
To begin with, your lawyer needs to know everything about what has happened up until now to make recommendations in the future. They also need to assess the situation and its particulars to make informed decisions about what steps should be taken next.
Communication
You need to have a clear line of communication with your child custody lawyer. It is important that you can talk about the case with them and that they can return calls, emails, or texts on time. If you do not feel comfortable talking about something on the phone, you can contact them via email.
Specialisation
Specialisation is important because it helps a lawyer focus on the area of law they know best. If you have a custody dispute with your ex-spouse, you want someone with expertise in family law and child custody matters. Your attorney can also draw upon their expertise to help predict what might happen during your case, which gives you peace of mind throughout the process.
Fees
You should also ask about the lawyer’s fee structure. The lawyer should be able to provide you with an estimate of how much they will charge you and what services they can deliver for that price. Ask whether there are additional fees, such as filing or state bar dues. If so, find out how much those costs are and if there are any ways around them.
Typically, the fees of a less experienced lawyer in Australia start at around $200 and may go up to $600 per hour for an experienced and specialised celebrities net worth lawyer.
Choosing a child custody lawyer is hard, but being prepared can make the process easier. So, find out what type of custody arrangement you want. Do you want joint physical custody or sole legal custody? Do you want to be able to stay in contact with your child? If so, how much time would they spend with each parent per week? Next, figure out how much you can afford to spend on this process and search for attorneys specialising in that area. Finally, ask friends and family members if they have any recommendations.