Find The Colorado Family Law Attorney That’s Right For You

One could argue that family law is at the heart of our communities. Its complex issues are intensely debated from the state legislature to social media and at our holiday dinner tables. Yet, no two family law cases are alike. 

Many clients face similar issues, but our family law attorneys look for what sets each matter apart without making assumptions. You need a Colorado family law attorney who understands this. But with over 900 attorneys practicing family law in Colorado alone, how are you supposed to know which one is right for you?

I’ve outlined some characteristics to help you identify the best Colorado family law attorney for your legal needs.

It’s true that nobody thinks about hiring a family law attorney until they need one. But how do you know if you need one? 

If your problem involves one or more of the following family law issues, you need a family law attorney: 

• Marriage

• Divorce

• Separation

• Annulment

• Domestic protection orders

• Property division

• Post-decree modifications

• Child custody

• Visitation

• Child support

• Grandparent’s rights

• Adoption

• Alimony

Often, one family law issue becomes another, which can be overwhelming as you search for the best family law attorney for you – especially if you haven’t anticipated all the legal issues that could surface as your case proceeds. 

It can be tempting to pick the first family law attorney you find on Google, but I strongly urge you to refrain from doing this. Even a lawyer with a sterling reputation can be the wrong fit to handle your case.

Expertise is a culmination of knowledge and practice over time. Not all family law attorneys share the same expertise. Many have varying degrees of experience across different sub-areas of family law. Finding a Colorado family law attorney with the right combination of expertise will be invaluable in helping you get the desired outcome. 

Why Expertise Matters: The depth of knowledge a veteran attorney brings to mediation or court can level the playing field in a contentious family law case. 

Considering expertise can help you narrow your search. Take a look at our team page to learn more about our family law attorneys, including how many years of experience they have and what specialties they hold.

Anyone taking your money should have strong principles. A lawyer with integrity is morally sound and objective about your case’s strengths and weaknesses. An ethical Colorado family law attorney will set reasonable expectations for your case outcome while striving to deliver the best possible results. 

Why Integrity Matters: Clients with complex family law matters aren’t always at their best. They’re stressed and can sometimes be overcome with emotion. These clients need clear-eyed, calm, and consistent representation. 

I recommend looking for integrity in online reviews. Websites like Google or SuperLawyer can give you a sense of an attorney’s character ahead of time. You can find our attorney’s reviews by visiting Robinson & Henry’s team page. 

It doesn’t hurt that many of our family law attorneys are former prosecutors or district attorneys. This experience imbues them with an invaluable sense of right and wrong and instills a pragmatic, no-nonsense approach that’s particularly effective in emotional family law matters. 

Advocacy is the unwavering support for an individual or cause. Often, when clients come to us for legal services, the people they consider their greatest advocates have let them down. 

The Colorado family law attorney you entrust with your case should seek to understand your perspective of events to craft a compelling argument to get you the best possible outcome. 

Why Advocacy Matters: Family law matters can be tough on all involved parties. An attorney who understands your goals and actively works to help you achieve them, especially when a routine matter evolves into an epic legal battle, is invaluable to a successful outcome.

Diligence is the persistent, focused effort to see something through. A family law attorney who is willing to go the distance with you by refusing to settle for less than you deserve isn’t as commonplace as one might think.

Why Diligence Matters: Sometimes, lawyers balk when presented with potential cases that, at first glance, seem overly cumbersome. These matters may require more effort, time, and expertise than an attorney can offer. You need counsel who will take your opposing party to trial if the circumstances and facts of the case warrant this level of deliberation.

Your family law attorney should take the time to meet with you, explain the process and what to expect, and answer any questions you may have. 

Why Accessibility Matters: When you’re in the middle of an emotional family law matter, you should feel represented. Our clients get face time with their attorneys. All good lawyers know they’re useless without the client’s participation.

Our family law attorneys pride themselves on being available to your needs. 

Any law firm, regardless of size, is only as good as its partners and associates. There are advantages and disadvantages to hiring a small or large firm. Let’s take a closer look at some of them.

The American Bar Association considers any firm with 350 or more attorneys a large firm. This figure considers national law firms with branches in multiple states, meaning a firm with 150 or more state-based attorneys would be among the largest in Colorado. 

Some of the benefits of hiring a large firm include: 

• Efficiency: Larger firms can hire more paralegals, administrative assistants, and other staff to handle daily operations. 

• Reputation: Large firms have built an enviable track record, earning a strong reputation that enables them to attract the best of the best. 

• Expertise: Large firms have teams of attorneys who can consult their colleagues on case strategy. These attorneys can often hone in on one practice area, gaining more expertise in their field. 

Like most things, where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. Some possible cons of hiring an attorney at a large firm:

• Inaccessibility: Lawyers from large firms without streamlined processes can lose track of your case in the shuffle. 

• Caseload: Some larger firms encourage attorneys to settle “routine” family law matters and move on, even when they could keep fighting for their clients. 

Going with a family law attorney from a small firm can reap rewards, especially regarding the following:

• Accessibility: Attorneys at smaller firms often only have a handful of cases at any time, which gives them more time to devote to each case.

• Affordability: Overall, smaller firms have lower overhead costs and can pass those savings on to their clients. 

There are two key disadvantages of small firm representation:

• Fewer resources: Smaller firms often have limited or no support staff. This leaves some small firms ill-equipped to take on bigger, more complex cases. 

• Multitasking: Fewer staff and resources means the attorneys take on operational tasks, such as accounting, marketing, client intake, and filing routine motions.

Family law matters can start small and become quite complex. An attorney without support or adequate resources might struggle to meet important legal deadlines. 

The Goldilocks Option

Yes, you will occasionally find the perfect fit for you. In this case, a “Goldilocks firm” has the prestige and resources of a larger firm and the expertise of a boutique firm. 

While no firm is perfect, some have emerged as thought leaders in maximizing all the advantages of growth while maintaining quality attorney-client relationships. Robinson & Henry is one of them.

We Take a Team-based Approach

Family law matters can overlap with other areas of law, such as estate planning, criminal defense, or business law. As a full-service law firm that provides legal services in dozens of legal areas, our family law attorneys have tremendous resources at their disposal. When our family law attorneys need guidance on issues outside their wheelhouse, they can turn to experienced colleagues for advice.

If you’re looking to reap all the benefits without any of the disadvantages, then Robinson & Henry could be just right for satisfying your legal needs. 

Cost is an important consideration.  But take it from me: Nothing is more expensive than a cheap divorce lawyer. 

Hiring a lawyer based solely on cost can result in negative consequences that can affect you for years, such as:

• Problematic child support or spousal maintenance payments

• Expensive attempts to modify unfavorable outcomes

• The emotional cost of living with an undesirable parenting time

Rolling the dice on a cheap divorce attorney isn’t worth the risk. 

I hope this legal guide has helped you determine the best Colorado family law attorney for your needs. However, if you’re ready to end your search and take the next step toward securing the best possible outcome in your matter, Robinson & Henry’s Family Law Team is ready to help. Call (720) 797-1536 for your case assessment.