If you are currently going through a separation or divorce, and are in doubt about who will provide custody and financial support for your children, it is imperative to retain a reputable family law attorney. When deciding who to hire, it is important to choose someone with substantive experience as a practicing child custody attorney, as not all general family attorneys have specialized knowledge of child placement. Here are four ways having a child custody attorney will greatly benefit your situation.

1. You will receive skillful advice

An experienced professional will help make sure you get exactly what you need for your children. If your marriage has complicated issues to resolve, you will likely need the skillful advice of someone with dedicated child placement experience. In advising you on the best deal, a trusted child custody attorney will always put your children’s interests first and ultimately fight for your children through a usually stressful and contentious situation.

2. Your stress will be reduced

The end of a marriage is often a stressful time for all parties involved. Having a family law professional by your side to work in your children’s best interests is a primary way to reduce the stress of divorce. Your counselor will gather the necessary information from you and then take care of all the legal aspects, giving you extra time to focus on caring for your children.

3. You will avoid mistakes

There are two main reasons mistakes happen when people try to complete their own divorces: the legal aspects involved are too complicated, and the stress of the breakup affects your mental clarity. If you inadvertently forget to include information related to your finances or relevant facts about your children, these mistakes can not only be costly, requiring additional legal proceedings, but can also affect the overall result. By hiring a competent child custody attorney, you can have peace of mind that your case is being handled correctly, while knowing that you are avoiding mistakes that could negatively affect the rest of your life.

4. You will avoid delays

While you can try to file the paperwork yourself using only the court-provided forms, as someone who is not skilled in the intricacies of legal jargon, you might have trouble filling out the correct forms and providing the proper documentation and information. If you go to court without an attorney, you will likely find that any issues with your paperwork can derail your case and cause a lengthy delay in court decisions. This could also significantly delay any final decision on the status of your children.

Ultimately, in making its final and binding decision, the court will always prioritize what is best for your children. An experienced child custody attorney will fight for you first and foremost, with the goal of protecting your rights and the rights of your children, so that your entire family gets the result it most deserves.