Lifestyle Tips: 4 Situations When Families Should Seek Legal Counseling
In today’s world, families face unique challenges that can be difficult to navigate independently. You might need legal counsel when you buy or sell real estate or handle certain financial matters, such as establishing guardianship for an elderly parent who can no longer manage their affairs independently.
Here are four life situations when your family should seek help from a legal professional.
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Adoption
Adoption is one of the most complex legal processes. If you’re thinking about adopting a child, it’s essential to know that the adoption process involves quite a bit of paperwork and can be long and expensive. When an adoption is finalized, the adoptive parents become the child’s legal parents.
The adoption process usually requires a home study by social workers or psychologists trained to evaluate families’ suitability to adopt children. These studies can last up to two years and cost thousands of dollars. A lawyer will be able to guide you through this complex process and make sure that everything is done correctly so that your adoption goes smoothly.
When Families Should Seek Legal Counseling: Wills and Estates 
If you die without a will, it’s known as dying “intestate.” Depending on where you live, your estate may be distributed according to state law (which varies from place to place). This can lead to complications.
For example, if your children are not named in your will or trust but are still considered beneficiaries under state law—even though they were omitted by design—then their share of the inheritance will be smaller than it would have been otherwise.
In addition, if someone dies intestate with young children or other dependents who require financial support from them after death (such as elderly parents), their share of inheritance is put into an irrevocable trust funded by their parent’s life insurance policy until those dependents come of age. This funding is intended so that younger family members don’t have all their assets tied up.
A lawyer specializing in drafting and making wills can help you better understand the issues involved and ensure that your choice is crafted to reflect your intentions. If you are unsure whether you need to have a will, contact a lawyer specializing in estate planning.
Divorce
Divorce is a difficult and stressful time for everyone involved. While it’s tempting to handle the process on your own, hiring an attorney may be more beneficial than you think. In addition to ensuring a proper division of assets, family law attorneys can help with custody issues and ensure that both parents have equal rights when it comes to their children.
When it comes to getting in touch with a divorce lawyer, it is best to hire someone nearby so that they can easily show up for court hearings and are available for advice. If you reside in North Carolina, hiring the services of a North Carolina divorce lawyer will be worth it! If you’re going through a divorce and want some advice on how best to proceed with your matter, contact an attorney today!
Buying or Selling a Home
A real estate lawyer is skilled in the art of negotiation, so they will be able to guide you on how to best proceed with your transaction. They can advise you on what type of contract would be most beneficial and provide guidance regarding how much should be paid for the property.
A real estate lawyer will also assist in gathering all the necessary paperwork and protect your interests throughout the process. They can give advice about selecting an escrow company, ensure that all documents are completed correctly and are filed timely during escrow, represent your interests during closing (i.e., finalizing any fees), inspect the property before closing, review contracts for possible errors that could cause problems later on down the road when trying to sell/buy back into the market again if needed due unforeseen circumstances arise unexpectedly.
It can be difficult to know when you should seek legal counseling. However, when it comes to family law, everyone must understand their rights and responsibilities as well as the consequences of not seeking legal counsel. It’s also important to remember that it is not always necessary for everyone in your family to consult with an attorney.
However, some situations do require more than one person’s input. If you find yourself in any of these situations, make sure you contact a family law attorney because they are qualified and experienced in dealing with these matters.
