Family Court Attorney Red Flags (Beware!!)

3 dead giveaways that your family law attorney is a walking red flag

Finding, retaining, and working with a family law attorney is one of the most difficult and frustrating aspects of a high conflict divorce and/or custody battle. 

And once you’ve secured your attorney, it can feel like everything is crashing down if you begin to realize that they’re not all their Yelp reviews cracked them up to be.

Here are some of the most egregious red flags that every survivor should be aware of:

Remember that your attorney works for you. 

High Pressure Behaviors From Your Family Law Attorney

Decisions made in your high conflict divorce and/or high custody battle should be made only when you feel informed, empowered, and fully consensual. 

Any form of coercion, pressure, or “Sign now, we’ll explain later” is a huge red flag.

If you feel rushed or pressured into any decision during your family law case, remember that you have the right to ask for more information and time. 

It is MUCH easier to slow down and not sign a document, than to go back and “fix” something later - no matter what anyone says. 

Secretive or Contradictory Information from Your Attorney

Attorneys that thoroughly explain everything to their clients do exist, and they’re gems. But for the most part, it’s pretty common to have to do some level of research on your own, or with your Certified High Conflict Divorce Coach to understand the legalese involved in your case.

However, if you feel that your attorney is withholding information or giving you information that contradicts what other court professionals, especially the judge, are telling you, this is a red flag that you need to pay attention to. 

What Does Your Gut Say?

One of the fastest and surest ways you’ll know whether or not a family law attorney is a walking red flag, is how you feel around them.

Survivors of narcissistic abuse may feel disconnected from or distrusting of their inner voice - but with gentle self-compassion and ongoing practice, tuning in to your inner voice and allowing your intuition to be your guide can be a saving grace when making important decisions, like which attorney to choose.

A Certified High Conflict Divorce Coach can support you in this important step of the process. Find yours here. 

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The fine print: I am not qualified to give you (or anyone) legal advice, I recommend consulting with your attorney. Your attorney is your voice and your advocate in the family court system.

About me: My name is Tina Swithin. I am a survivor and I am a mom who "gets it.” While acting as my own attorney, I successfully protected my children in a system that is best described as “inhumane,”  I am a blogger, a divorce coach and a fierce advocate for reform in the family court system. You can read more about me here.