Characteristics Needed For Auckland Family Lawyers
People often wonder what specifically is covered by the term “family law.” There are many different aspects to this which we will look at briefly. However, it is safe to say that Auckland family lawyers deal with so of the most dramatic and unhappy areas of people’s lives. To be able to provide a good service for their clients, Auckland family lawyers need to have certain characteristics.
What Is Family Law?
First, let us look at the different aspects covered by family law.
These can be broken down into four sub-categories
Separation
This covers the dissolution of the relationship and the distribution of the matrimonial assets.
Children
There are often children involved in a separation. Care of any children by one or both parents can be a problem. The Family Court will decide what is better for the children. Determining paternity is another issue that the court can make a decision about.
Violence
There is often violence during a relationship whether towards the other partner or children. There are various restraining orders that can be taken out to protect the other family members.
Other Aspects
The remaining issues tend to be of a happier nature and include adoption, changing gender on documents, and Powers of Attorney.
Auckland Family Lawyers – Common Traits
Most of these topics are highly emotional events, involving the break-up of families, battles over childcare, disagreements over ownership of assets, even violence to the other party.
As such, a family lawyer needs to have good empathy and be able to appreciate the trauma that their client is suffering from.
This comes down to being good at communicating. In other areas of law, then a more matter-of-fact or even a hard-line approach is appropriate especially when dealing with a strong opposing party. However, given the probable raw emotions of their client, and the difficult results that re likely to follow, a family lawyer in Auckland needs to be sympathetic and understanding.
However, that does not mean that family lawyers can be soft or appeasing. They often have to tell their client that the client’s views are not correct. This is especially common with regard to relationship property. One party may feel they are entitled to more of the matrimonial assets than is the case. Under New Zealand law, each party is entitled to half of the join assets from the duration of the relationship.
Similarly, the lawyer needs to be firm with the other party’s lawyer. The lawyer has to fight for and protect their client’s interests and assets.
Summary
Many of these issues are significant, life-changing events. Adoption is likely to be a change for the better for the parents, and the child, but the remainder are for the most part, not happy occasions., particularly in the short-term. In the longer run, one or more of the parties may come to see the outcome for the better but in the immediate future, all parties are probably going to be under significant emotional pressure.
If you need the assistance of one of the Auckland family lawyers, you can look at McVeagh Fleming. They have an office on Quay St so are conveniently located.
www.mcveaghfleming.co.nz