New York family lawyer Andrea B Friedman discusses some of these demands and shares her top priorities for delivering the best results possible for her clients.
Family law requires unique skills, from compassion to due diligence. How can you strike the right balance so you can help your clients reach their goals?
There is no single right way to do this. Each client will require a different level and type of communication. Personally, I am direct and honest with clients. Transparency is a key element in setting and managing clients’ expectations.
I make sure clients are fully informed about their options and the reasons for them. If I feel it is helpful, I will suggest additional resources to clients. My clients should remain positive throughout the process, and I will do my best to help them reach their goals.
How can you collaborate with your clients in the sensitive area of child custody?
My job is to ensure my client’s best interests. It is crucial to fully understand my client’s goals and concerns when addressing custody issues. To achieve these goals, we work within the legal limits. Regular communication with clients is an important part of the representation process. This allows them to be informed about any changes or shifts.
What are your unique challenges as an attorney in dealing with child custody cases
Respecting the boundaries of clients. My client’s child is not allowed to talk with me as an attorney. The Attorney for the Children is often the court-appointed attorney that the child has. This can cause a disconnect between the work we do to help clients achieve their goals and the everyday issues that may arise in their case. These issues should be explained to clients, broken down into everyday language they can understand, and kept them informed of any developments that may affect real-time matters.
How can you help fathers overcome the unique challenges they face in custody battles?
Sometimes, there is a perception among fathers that they are the second parent. This can have a negative impact on custody proceedings. A father seeking equal parenting time will need to affirmatively demonstrate their active involvement in the child’s daily life from the beginning. This evidence can be in many forms including photos, calendars, diaries, and witnesses. It is a good idea to consult an attorney as soon as possible.
My job is to ensure my client’s best interests. It is crucial to know my client’s goals and concerns when addressing custody issues.
What strategies can you use to locate undisclosed assets in divorce cases?
A review of credit card and bank records can reveal lots of information that is not disclosed. If you suspect that someone banks at a particular institution, you can serve a subpoena to that institution. This will reveal records that the party might not have produced.
It is often important to ask a party about any charges they incur that are not included in their bank or credit card bills. You can conclude that you have missing documents and information if you don’t see the paper trail of an expense.
How does the law deal with debts accumulated in a marriage by one partner? This is how difficult it is to prove?
Any debt that is accumulated in marriage is considered marital regardless of who the debt is. One spouse can claim that the debt was not incurred or used to support marital purposes, but they must prove it. This is often dependent on the amount of evidence available and the credibility of the parties.
Do you have any other ideas?
It is very rewarding to be a matrimonial or family law attorney. It is a challenging task to help a client navigate through one of their most difficult times. My goal is for each client to achieve the best outcome possible to enable them to move on in their lives.
Andrea B Friedman
Friedman & Friedman PLLC. Attorneys at Law
White Plains, NY 10605 USA, 120 Bloomingdale Road Suite 307
Tel: +1 914-686-8258
Fax: +1 914-873-0957
Andrea B Friedman, Attorneys at Law , is a named partner at Friedman PLLC. Andrea is a recognized leader in family and matrimonial law with more than a decade of expertise. Her practice focuses on preparation, insight and advocacy for clients. She handles all aspects of matrimonial, family, and appellate law, from inception through trial. Her exceptional leadership skills and unwavering dedication to representing clients in matrimonial or family law has earned her numerous awards and recognitions.