Before we begin, we are sure you would like to know the difference between your regular attorneys and family law specialists. The difference lies not just in their degree but in their experience. All Certified Family Law Specialists are Lawyers, but not all Lawyers are Certified Family Law Specialists.
Several requirements must be met before one can be classified as a Certified Family Law Specialist. This field of law is quite demanding. It takes a tremendous toll on the mind, especially when dealing with family separation.
Family law litigation is an exciting and fragile field. It must be handled with utmost care and clarity.
What Is Family Law
Family or matrimonial law, as it is fondly called, is a field of legal practice that deals with grievances in a domestic aspect. Any grievance between members of a household falls under this jurisdiction. Such matters are always delicate and fragile and must be handled with care.
All Certified family law specialists, or CFLS for short, are trained to handle such matters cautiously.
Requirements To Become A Family Law Specialist
To be considered a bonified CFLS, attorneys are required to pass a supplementary exam when taking the bar. In addition to that, they must present recommendations and show experience in that specialization. The CFLS qualification is temporary, requiring legal practitioners to undergo added training every three years.
Job Specifications Of Family Law Specialists
Certified family law specialists perform various functions pertaining to the general family law category. They include;
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Alimony
- Annulment
- Paternity
- Domestic violence
- Child support
- Juvenile law
- Adoption
- Visitation rights
- State child protection
- State guardianship
- Surrogacy
Cases involving household members are usually emotive and controversial, especially regarding divorce and child custody. Most state laws favor mothers when it involves matters regarding children. The rules may support the mother, but depending on the nature of the case, the father may be preferred.
A CFLS attorney possesses the proper training and experience to deal with such cases. In the end, it all comes down to the presentation. Your legal practitioners’ knowledge and experience will decide the outcome of your trial.
Duties Of A Family Law Practitioner To Their Client
Family attorneys deal with various clients; some may be decisive, and others may be conflicted. Legal representatives’ duty is to inform clients of their rights and options. The CFLS attorney must also advise their client on the best route to follow that aligns with their interest.
Their duties also include;
- The drafting and review of documents like witness statements and pleadings.
- Negotiation with the opposing party
- Relaying offers from the opposing party to the client
- Researching prior cases that may be linked with the present one
- Proper examination of any evidence that is or may be connected with the case
- Cooperating with other appropriate authorities, e.g., the police, social service, medical personnels, etc.
Conclusion
Family law is a highly complex field that requires care and skill to navigate. For the best outcome, clients are advised to go with attorneys with their CFLS qualifications. When dealing with the law, nothing beats practice and experience.
