Evelyn Hudson 
The practice of family law can have a drastic impact on clients both in and out of the courtroom. Those pursuing this field of legal work must be sympathetic, tough, compassionate, and resourceful.
Cases in this area can be long and drawn out. Family lawyers must be able to defuse conflict and help their clients remain focused.
Child Custody and Visitation
One of the primary areas in which family lawyers work involves custody and visitation. Custody is the right to make major decisions for a child and can be split between parents or held by one parent. It can also be shared with grandparents or other caregivers. Visitation is the right to spend time with a child regularly. Parents must be able to agree on a schedule, or the court will set one for them. A judge can limit visitation rights if evidence of abuse or neglect exists. For instance, experienced attorneys Spring Hill, FL, can help ensure that the outcome of a custody or visitation case is fair and in line with state law. These lawyers are accustomed to managing the many deadlines and paperwork involved and can avoid errors that could prove costly down the road. They can also negotiate with opposing counsel when necessary. This can be particularly beneficial regarding child and spousal support issues.
Child Support
While not always top of mind when considering a divorce, child support is a crucial component that must be addressed. A family lawyer can help parents determine the appropriate amount of child support to be paid and how that support should be distributed. Most states have child support guidelines that will estimate how much child support should be paid. While various online calculators are available, a family lawyer can apply these guidelines to your situation and determine the exact number. Child support covers various expenses related to the care of children, such as food, clothing, and shelter costs. It also usually includes health insurance and education costs. A reputable family law attorney can help you understand how these calculations are made and fight to ensure that the amount of child support paid is fair. They can also help you modify an existing child support order if circumstances have changed significantly.
Divorce
Whether it’s a divorce, legal separation, or marriage counseling, a family law attorney can help clients with various legal cases related to their relationship. A lawyer in this practice area may also be responsible for assisting with the preparation of prenuptial agreements. A lawyer in this field needs to have excellent interpersonal skills. This is because family lawyers handle many emotionally sensitive and stressful cases.
It is also essential for a family law attorney to have patience and resilience. Because these cases can be lengthy and have setbacks, the attorney must be able to manage their emotions while staying focused on the end goal. How attorneys hold themselves out to the public can also say a lot about their approach; for example, an attorney who describes herself as a divorce attorney might have a more ruthless image than one who defines herself as a family law attorney.
Legal Separation
Although divorce is often the preferred route for couples with serious marriage problems, legal separation is also available. A family lawyer can help you prepare a legal separation agreement that covers all critical concerns, including child custody and visitation schedules, financial support arrangements, property ownership rights, and debts. A legal separation is not a divorce, and spouses cannot remarry each other during the period of legal separation. Some spouses seek a legal separation because they believe there may still be hope for reconciliation. Nevertheless, the issues that must be addressed in a divorce are typically included in a legal separation agreement, so each spouse needs an attorney to safeguard their interests. If one party to a legal separation agreement does not have an attorney, that spouse could later use lack of representation as a reason for invalidating the terms of the agreement.
