As experienced family law attorneys, we know that family law cases often involve emotion and complex issues concerning family members. These can be among the most stressful cases due to the nature of the family relationships involved, or the breakdown of such relationships. As a result, we see clients make many mistakes. Here are the top mistakes clients make and how you can avoid them:

Mistake 1: Having unrealistic expectations or demands of the outcome.
Many clients start a divorce, modification or other child custody proceeding, expecting that they will get absolutely everything that they want. In these family law cases, finances, personal property, real estate and other assets are in dispute. Child custody is in dispute. If you are involved in this type of case, you need to be reasonable and work with your attorney to reach an outcome that is favorable to you, without being unrealistic.

Mistake 2: Not telling your attorney the whole truth.
The attorney-client relationship requires trust and cooperation. Many clients don’t trust their attorneys, or worse, believe the attorney is not there to help them. When clients don’t provide their attorney with the whole truth, they’re making a major mistake. Chances are, your attorney has been through these types of cases before and you haven’t. Tell your attorney the whole truth so s/he can help guide you through the case.

Mistake 3: Becoming a nuisance to your attorney and his/her staff.
A family law case is obviously difficult and a high priority in your life. Your case is a priority to your attorney as well, but is just one of many matters your attorney is handling. Calling your attorney repeatedly over small matters, being impatient for return phone calls or being rude to the staff is a sure fire way to lose the help of your attorney. Ask your attorney up front how you can be of assistance and how the attorney would best like to communicate with you. Keep a note pad and write down events or questions. Save this information for one call or appointment rather than tying up your attorney with multiple calls for a single question or passing along an event that has happened. This will help your attorney and will save your attorneys fees for when they are truly needed.

Mistake 4: Making decisions on emotion and not logic.
This is hard to do for some clients due to the emotions involved in the end of a marriage or child custody cases. However, emotional decisions rarely work long term. Take time to respond rationally and work with your attorney to achieve a reasonable outcome. Don’t seek revenge or try to prove that you were “right”.

Mistake 5: Failing to follow advice/requests from your attorney.
Many clients ignore the advice of their attorney or fail to follow requests from their attorney. The legal system has deadlines for actions. Answers have to be filed, interrogatories answered, court dates kept. Keep appointments, come in to sign documents, and show up at court when asked to do so.