Family FAQ

Whether you are getting a divorce or are fighting with a post-divorce child custody issue, I have received countless phone calls from people who are upset that they hired a highly competent and highly compensated divorce attorney only to later find out that much of the work being done on their case, and even many of the Court appearances are being handled by a "junior associate" of the law firm. This basically means you may pay a large retainer of several thousand dollars to an attorney who initially evaluates your case only to have your case handed off to a young and inexperienced lawyer later on. A young lawyer may be capable of doing a good job for you, but look at hiring a lawyer like any other financial decision. Don't you want to know what you're getting before you make a purchase? Before you write a check to a lawyer to be your advocate, however, I would suggest asking a few questions about who will actually be handling your case. At the Law Office of Joshua S. Reed, what you see is what you get: an experienced and compassionate attorney, willing to evaluate your situation and become your advocate.

The Juvenile Courts have jurisdiction in all child custody cases for unmarried parents. The Juvenile Courts also resolve dispute when either side has made an allegation involving "Dependency and Neglect". If you believe that your child is in physical danger when he/she is in the care of their other parent you may need to file a Petition in the Juvenile Court for Dependency and Neglect. If you believe that your child is the victim of child abuse or that the other parent is incompetent due to alcohol, drugs, another form of substance abuse, or a mental illness of some sort you should hire a family law attorney who is experienced in this specific area of practice. At the Law Office of Joshua S. Reed, Mr. Reed has handled literally countless Juvenile Court Cases on behalf of parents, grandparents, or other relatives whose children have been subject to abuse. Mr. Reed has also defended clients against allegations of abuse and guided many clients through the process of restoring their rights to raise their children after coping with substance abuse or other issues.

I have had many clients come to me with the question: does it matter who files for divorce first. Many clients might have an understandable religious or moral objection to filing for divorce or they simply do not want a divorce, but they feel their spouse will have the upper hand if they do not file first. Just like many legal questions, this is very fact-specific, so the only real answer is "it depends." The best plan is to consult with an experienced and compassionate attorney as soon as you feel divorce could be imminent.

The unfortunate fact is that it takes two people to make a marriage work and only one of the parties to decide a divorce is going to happen. As the old adage goes, it takes "two to make it, one to break it." If you do not want to divorce, but you are concerned that you may make decisions that could be harmful to your interests or that could jeopardize your interests as a parent, you may benefit from legal advice from an attorney who will shoot you straight on your situation without trying to pressure you to file for divorce just to pad their bottom line. If you need an attorney to shoot you straight on your situation, please call the Law Office of Joshua S. Reed for a consult. Mr. Reed has counseled many people in this exact position and is able to advise you on how to best protect your rights, even if you are still working on your marriage. As a Christian, and a married father of two, Mr. Reed is happy to see couples reconcile when possible. As an Attorney, though, we are well aware of the serious consequences to you and your children that can result if you attempt to simply ignore divorce proceedings. In short, Mr. Reed has the experience and compassion necessary to protect your rights while refusing to escalate a heated situation. If you have assets or children, you have far more to risk by not consulting with an Attorney, even if you are working to avoid a divorce.