Is It Essential to Hire a Sydney Family Law Specialist for My Case?

Separation can leave you feeling vulnerable and emotionally drained especially if a dispute arises with your former partner in relation to financial or parenting matters and you may feel overwhelmed at the idea of engaging a lawyer to assist you reach an agreement with your former spouse. It is important to engage a lawyer early, before outstanding issues snowball into a situation you have little to no control over such as your partner obtaining an AVO against you or making other offensive allegations so that your matter must dispute ending up in the Family Court system.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of hiring an accredited family law specialist to assist you and your family achieve the best possible outcome in your family law matter.

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What is a Family Law Specialist?

A family law specialist is a lawyer who specialises in the area of family law. Such lawyers have the knowledge of family law and experience in divorce, financial and parenting disputes to guide you throughout your separation journey. A family law accredited specialist is a lawyer who not only specialises in family law but is also recognised by the Law Society of New South Wales as an expert in family law, having passed rigorous testing and demonstrated the skills and knowledge required to be recognised as such. Whether you decide to engage a lawyer who specialises in family law or an accredited specialist, both choices are safer than engaging a lawyer without experience in family law.

Legal Knowledge and Experience

One of the greatest advantages of hiring a specialist family lawyer is their outstanding knowledge of family law and their experience in negotiating settlements and appearing at Court to advocate for your rights and the best interests of your children. These experts have the ability to advise you in relation to the complex issues which often arise during a relationship and/or family breakdown. Issues that may have seemed overwhelming and too difficult to solve are simple for experienced family lawyers to resolve given their experience and knowledge of family law practice and procedure. By hiring a family law specialist, you can have the peace of mind that your separation is being managed by an expert and that your interests are being protected.

Emotional Support

A specialised family lawyer has guided many clients through the separation process and has experience supporting these clients both legally and emotionally. By offering solutions to the issues that arise before, during or after a separation, your legal representation can assist you build resilience and help you to feel supported during this difficult time. A specialised family lawyer will also be able to recognise the unique emotional aspects of your divorce and adjust their advice accordingly. Further, where appropriate, an experienced family lawyer will be able to refer you or your family to counsellors, psychologists, family therapists of psychiatrists depending on you and your family’s needs.

Cost Effective

While you may assume that to save on costs you should engage a cheaper lawyer, this does not always work out especially if your matter is complex. Lawyers not experienced in family law do not know the practices and procedures that move these cases along efficiently and accordingly spend more time working on your matter than a specialist or accredited specialist family lawyer would. Inexperienced family lawyers may also rely more on advice from Barristers, again driving up costs when a specialist can draw on their own knowledge and skill to navigate the system and settle any issues that arise. Choosing to represent yourself can also be detrimental, as the Court system and law in this field is complex and your case could result in you giving away rights that you are entitled to in law. An experienced family lawyer will also know when to take a step back and allow their client to negotiate a settlement with their former partner, where appropriate, and if and when to commence Court proceedings. A specialist family lawyer will consider these cost saving measures to ensure that their legal assistance is both cost effective and within your means.

Wrapping Up: The Value of Specialist Representation in Family Law

Although it may not be “essential” to hire a family law specialist for your family law matter, at Dettmann Phair Lawyers, we advise all prospective clients to engage a specialist (and where possible an accredited specialist) family lawyer to represent them in their case. By engaging a lawyer who is well versed in family law, you can stress less and have the peace of mind that your matter is being managed in the best possible way.

If you are considering separating from your partner, are in the process of doing so or have already separated,  to organise an appointment with one of our specialist family lawyers in Sydney.

With our help, we’ll guide you on the best path moving forward so that your family can thrive and you receive your entitlements from the relationship.

Read through our comprehensive guide on family law.