Can You Hire an Attorney for One Family Law Issue?

by Whipple Mercado | Sep 21, 2022 | Custody, Divorce, Mediation, Pre-marital Agreements, Separation

In a divorce, separation, or custody case, you might need help from an attorney for just one issue. Maybe your spouse is trying to take advantage of you, or there’s some other specific challenge that requires expert advice. Regardless of why, hiring an attorney for a particular task can be very helpful in these situations. But can you hire an attorney for one family law issue? We will discuss how this is accomplished and what to expect from this service.

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Can You Hire a Lawyer For One Family Law Issue?

The simple answer is yes. Suppose you are involved in a dissolution proceeding and you are representing yourself but only need an attorney’s assistance for one issue, such as child custody, property division, or to establish child support. In that case, there is a way to hire an attorney for that issue alone. An attorney can file a form called a Notice of Limited Scope Representation. Limited scope legal services can be viewed as an a la carte meal. Instead of purchasing the whole meal, you can select what you want and save time and money.

What Does a Limited Scope Mean?

You and a lawyer may agree to a limited-scope representation in which you take charge of some aspects of your case and the lawyer handles others. In full scope representation, the lawyer handles all aspects of the case from beginning to end. With limited scope the issues that the lawyer handles are spelled out in the Notice and the litigant handles all aspects of the case that are not specifically assigned to the lawyer.

Issues a Limited Scope Lawyer Can Handle

In a family law matter, a limited scope lawyer may provide a wide variety of legal services based on your specific needs. You may hire an attorney that handles all the paperwork in your case or ensures that it is accurate and complete. A limited scope attorney can also address your case’s logistical issues, including scheduling and preparation for court appearances and proceedings. A limited scope attorney may be hired for one court appearance such as a Department of Child Support Services hearing or to represent you at a custody hearing.

When Do I Need Limited Scope Legal Help?

It is usually advantageous to seek an attorney as soon as you realize you are not equipped to handle the issue. It is common for people to enter family law proceedings thinking they can handle them independently, only to face significant challenges they are unfamiliar with. Your attorney may review your situation and advise you on the kind of legal help that would be most advantageous. Suppose you can handle some aspects of the issue but not all of them. In that case, you should seek out a limited scope attorney immediately to help with one family law issue.

When Does the Limited Scope End?

Once the attorney has completed the work you have hired them to do, you will be required to sign a Substitution of Attorney, relieving the attorney of his or her duties. This lets the Court and all parties involved know that the attorney no longer represents you on the specified issues.

Bottom Line

In addition to providing cost-efficient legal representation, a limited scope attorney for one family law issue can assist their client in several ways. If you are going through any type of family law issue and do not think your case requires full representation, consult with an experienced limited scope lawyer to determine the best type of representation for your needs.

We Can Help

We hope this article helped answer your questions. Please contact us today if you have any other concerns or inquiries about family law and limited scope representation for one family law issue. Remember, you do not have to face this difficult time alone. You can also book a no-cost consultation with Whipple, Mercado & Associates.

We look forward to hearing from you.

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Tammy J. Mercado

Tammy J. Mercado has a passion for helping her clients achieve their desired results. She listens and she personally and promptly responds to your texts, emails and phone calls. She offers real solutions to your legal matters. Tammy will carefully evaluate the legal issues in your case, provide you with sound advice and offer you the pros and cons of each possible scenario so you can meet your legal objectives. She encourages clients to participate in their own matters. Tammy believes that client participation is key to a positive result and to keeping attorney fees as low as possible. You can be sure that she will offer you straightforward, sound and honest advice in a professional manner, with integrity and excellence.

Before opening her own law practice, Tammy worked for many high-volume law firms. This gave her extensive, diversified experience in hundreds of complex family law cases as well as civil matters. She is admitted to practice law before all courts in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Alameda County Bar Association and the Bar Association of San Francisco. Tammy is also a member of the Rotary Club of Danville.

Tammy is a graduate of John F. Kennedy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from the University of Phoenix. Tammy is also a licensed real estate broker, which comes in handy for valuing property in family law cases as well as real estate matters in the civil arena.

During her off time, Tammy is an avid sailor who crews and races on various boats in the San Francisco Bay. Tammy approaches each case as she would any yacht race: by assessing the other’s strengths, weaknesses, experience, equipment, history and reputation. She is a member of the American Sailing Association, and she is a certified Coast Guard Auxiliary member.

HONORS AND AWARDS
Tammy was selected to receive the prestigious “Business Person of the Year” Award in 2017 for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.

Tammy is currently serving as Danville Rotary President for 2017 through 2019.

Mary C. Whipple, CFLS

Mary C. Whipple opened her first law practice in the summer of 2008. She previously was an associate attorney at the Law Office of Cummins & Holmes, a full-service civil litigation law firm in San Ramon. The majority of her experience is in family law, which includes divorce, custody, support, prenuptial agreements and domestic-violence restraining orders. Certified by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, she is a specialist in the area of family law. Mary has also represented clients in a variety of non-family-law cases, including juvenile dependency, probate, breach of contract and employment disputes, to name a few.

Mary also previously worked as a contract attorney for O’Melveny & Meyers in San Francisco while simultaneously volunteering at the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Volunteer Legal Services Program, representing defendants in unlawful detainer actions. The program acknowledged Mary with an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award in 2006 for her efforts in providing access to justice.

A seventh-generation Californian, Mary is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law. She earned her Bachelor of Science in criminology at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. She is a member of the State Bar of California, the Alameda County Bar Association, and the Contra Costa County Bar Association.

In addition, Mary is active in her community as a member of the Ambassador’s Committee for the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce; a volunteer at the Contra Costa County and Alameda County Superior Courts, where she assists self-represented litigants in completing their divorces; and a member of Divorce Angel, where she provides information regarding family law matters to members of the community. Since 2007 she has been a volunteer judge for Alameda and Contra Costa County’s Annual High School Moot Court Competition. She is also a member of the Danville/Sycamore Valley Rotary Club. She was awarded the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce 2012 Business Person of the Year; and a graduate of the 2012 class of Leadership San Ramon Valley.

CERTIFIED LEGAL SPECIALTIES
Certified Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization