Get a Second Opinion for a Texas Divorce or Child Custody Case
When a doctor recommends a patient undergo surgery, most people would agree that it’s a good idea to get a second opinion before going under the knife. In many cases, getting a second set of eyes on a divorce or child custody case can be beneficial, too. At the Sisemore Law Firm, we regularly consult with individual clients as well as other law firms seeking second opinions about family law issues in Texas.
When to get a second opinion about family law matters
If you have questions about certain aspects of your divorce or custody case, and want to make sure the strategy your current legal team recommends makes sense, you may benefit from getting a second opinion. At the Sisemore Law Firm, we can review your case and let you know if we concur with your current attorney’s approach or think a different strategy might be a better option.
You don’t have to switch attorneys to get a second opinion
Getting a second opinion doesn’t necessarily mean you will be changing divorce lawyers. Sometimes it just helps to get a fresh point of view. However, if you’re having ongoing issues with your current law firm, switching law firms may be worth considering. The three most common reasons individuals switch divorce attorneys is due to:
- Disagreements about case strategy.
- Client and attorney’s personalities don’t mesh.
- Lack of communication from legal team (don’t return calls promptly or keep you updated on your case, etc.).
Even if you want to switch attorneys, timing may prohibit a move
Timing is critical if you’re thinking about changing attorneys, and this is something we take seriously when providing a second opinion about family law issues. If we don’t think it’s a good time to switch—say your trial is a week away or the discovery period has passed—we’ll likely recommend you stay with your current law firm.
If the timing is right, and we think our legal team would be a good fit for your case, we can discuss next steps. In fact, about 30 percent of our clients switched to the Sisemore Law Firm after being represented by another firm.
Divorce Consulting Services: A second set of eyes for other family law firms
Along with providing insight to individuals with complex family law cases, our founder divorce attorney Justin Sisemore serves as a divorce consultant to other family law firms. As a divorce consultant, Justin acts much like general counsel does for Fortune 500 corporations or a general contractor overseeing the construction of an industrial complex. He looks at the big picture and offers insight, while the divorce attorney handles the boots on the ground, day-to-day operations of the case.
Typical services a divorce consultant provides
For highly-complex, high-net-worth divorces or cases where various business entities are involved, an experienced divorce consultant can help out in myriad ways. They can weigh in on case strategy, give a 30,000-foot view regarding how all the pieces are coming together and suggest options they believe could potentially provide the optimum outcome for the client.
Other helpful resources a divorce consultant can provide
As a long-time resident of the Dallas / Fort Worth and one of the top divorce attorneys in Fort Worth, divorce attorney Justin Sisemore has cultivated a vast network. For the division of assets and debts, our firm utilizes tracing and valuation experts, business bankers, forensic accountants and business and estate lawyers. On the child custody side, we refer to our rolodex of parenting facilitators, custody evaluators and psychologists. Justin only works with the best of the best.
When hiring a divorce consultant makes sense
Whether you’re an individual with a complex case or a law firm, there are many instances where having another divorce attorney weigh in on your family law case can be helpful. Divorce consultants can also connect you with additional resources to help streamline your case. You may benefit from hiring a divorce consultant if:
- You feel stuck and frustrated with how your case is progressing.
- You’re having communication issues with your divorce lawyer and want an objective opinion about your case.
- You’re a client—or an attorney or law firm—who doesn’t have the necessary expertise regarding certain aspects of the case, like handling business valuations for multiple businesses, unravelling complex finances, valuing unusual types of property, etc.
- You and your lead attorney are—or you are an attorney who is—from out-of-state and need a local attorney in Texas to weigh in on a case that is being heard in a Texas court.
Divorce consultants act as an additional resource for your legal team, not as someone handling the lead attorney’s role. They truly serve as a sounding board and leave other important duties like conducting depositions, filing pleadings, and representing clients in court and at mediation to the lead attorney retained on the case.
When you need a second set of eyes on a family law case, we can help
If you would like to get a second opinion about an existing divorce or child custody case or learn more about the divorce consulting process, contact us. To schedule a confidential case review or meeting to discuss divorce consulting services, please call our office at (817) 336-4444 or schedule your consultation online.
About Sisemore Law
At Sisemore Law Firm, we know family challenges can feel overwhelming. That’s why we provide compassionate support and expert guidance, backed by over 25 years of experience in family and divorce law. You deserve understanding and dedicated representation—and we're here to help.
Counties We Serve
Collin County
Dallas County
Denton County
Ellis County
Johnson County
Parker County
Tarrant County
Wise County