LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Top Ten
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS You Should Ask
WHEN LOOKING FOR A FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY
ASHLEY OPFER, ESQ. O P F E R | C A M P B E L L P.C .
PG 1
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
1. How many cases have you tried similar to mine? What is your track record? Avoid someone
who has handled only a few cases similar to yours in a year or who does not have a good track record. It is generally good to avoid attorneys who practice in all areas of the law or are “general practitioners”. You want someone who specializes in family or domestic law. Ashley’s Answer I have practiced exclusively in the area of Family or Domestic Law since becoming licensed to practice law in Colorado. I have handled hundreds of divorce, child custody and family law cases over the years. I have, generally, had very positive results which, I believe, is a result of establishing and maintaining reasonable expectations for my clients and maintaining current knowledge and practice standards.
2. What is a PRE vs. CFI? In your opinion, who are the best PRE and CFI practices that keep the best interest of the children in mind. Are there any that I should avoid? Watch out for
attorneys that cannot answer this question very thoroughly. Avoid attorneys that don’t have experience with several different PRE and CFI practices.
PG 2
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
PG 3
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Ashley’s Answer I have worked with and maintain good relationships with many Parental Responsibility Evaluators (PRE) and Child and Family Investigators (CFI). Just as every parent, child, family, attorney, etc. is different so too are PRE’s and CFI’s. PRE’s and CFI’s can specialize in different scenarios ranging from parental alienation and abuse to mental health or substance abuse concerns. We are careful to select a PRE or CFI that specializes in the areas that affect individual cases to achieve the most thorough and reasoned results in the best interest of your children.
3. How do you write Parenting Plans? What things do you include in them? He or she should be able to explain in great detail the different types of parenting plans, visitation, etc.. They should be able identify common pitfalls in the way that the plan is written that the other party can manipulate. Ashley’s Answer The parenting plan is, essentially, an ordered plan between parents regarding every aspect of co-parenting. It should lay out parenting time, decision making, and financial support for the children. We are careful when drafting parenting plans to pay attention to the details and to make sure that your parenting plan not only meets your goals and desires but is also practical and applicable to you and your children’s daily life. We make sure to include specific types of decision making such as major decision making for health, education, religion and welfare. PG 4
LAW OFFICE OF
OPFER CAMPBELL P.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW
We address parenting time including school and summer or break parenting time, holidays, vacations and issues such as transportation. We also always make sure to address financial issues that are not included in child support. It is important to share financial responsibility for the children fairly.
4. How do you make sure that the best interest of the children is kept? He or She should be able to
assess you, your children, and your specific case to determine your children’s best interest. Watch out for attorneys who try to fit you and your family into a mold that doesn’t address your specific children’s needs. Ashley’s Answer Your children’s best interests are different and unique to them. We are careful to get a comprehensive understanding of your unique child and his or her needs from you in helping you to design a plan that will support the child’s best interests. We recognize that, sometimes, the children’s best interests conflict with the interests of a parent. We view it as our responsibility to educate our clients on those conflicting interests and guide them in choosing an option that will best support their children.
5. What county do you work in mostly? How well do you know the judge who would be ruling on my case? Avoid an attorney who practices in every jurisdiction. Look for an attorney who practices enough in your county to have a track record with the judges there.
PG 5