Litigation Coaching Services
Stuart Showalter, LLC
Are the emotional and financial cost of a
child custody battle becoming too great?
Then now it is time to use a service that pays for itself.
Divorce or any proceeding in which child custody is determined can be a draining time both emotionally and financially. It is natural to want to distance yourself from this traumatic event and just let a lawyer handle it. However, this is a time in which you must invest in yourself and your case.
If you are a self-represented litigant then the task ahead of you is even more daunting. The thought of going into a courtroom filled with procedures, technicalities and well-trained opposing attorneys may be more frightful than the possibility of going to jail or losing your children. It does not need be such a terrorizing experience and will not be if you are an informed and knowledgeable litigant.
This is a life changing event and as with any life changing event, be it the birth of your first child or a major medical procedure you need the assistance of professionals to make it the best it can be. By statute there are certain factors to be included in a child custody decision. These include the mental and physical health of the parents, the child's interaction with the parents and the child's adjustment to home, school and community.
To be the best parent you can be for your child during this transition in your life you need more than just legal representation; you need a life management team. This is a time that will strain you mentally, strain your finances and disrupt your daily routines. Our field of experts can help you manage your physical and mental health, finances, relationship with your child and what this all ultimately affects, your legal case
We focus primarily on only one area of the law; child custody
Child Custody Law
Whether you are an attorney, other professional or a parent you can benefit from a specialist in child custody law. Stuart Showalter is a lobbyist to the Indiana General Assembly that has written and had child custody law adopted by the State of Indiana. Always interested in the best interest of children he advises governing bodies, practitioners and parents on issues well beyond law that are affecting child custody. The importance of child custody requires more than a casual relationship to it.
A child custody battle is likely the most important and can be the most costly litigation that you will ever face. There is one reason for that; that is the way it was designed to be. Whether you will soon be going through divorce, a paternity action or are seeking a modification of any order you will need to consult with someone. These are very emotional issues and the system takes advantage of that.
You are ready to fight for what you believe in and to protect your children and give them what is best. The other parent also feels that he or she is ready to fight to protect your children and give them what is best. Rarely are those beliefs the same and with lawyers by each of your sides the stage is set for a long drawn out battle that will cost you not only time and money but possibly the emotional well-being of you and your children.
Some unscrupulous divorce attorneys are pleased to have you in this situation. Some even go through the unethical practice of encouraging their clients to file a No Contact or Protective Order barring the two of you from having direct communications. Now each of you must have any contact through the attorneys. Two clocks running makes more money for them. It doesn't have to be this way though. Even if, as parents, you are unable to agree about what is best for your children that battle does not need to be costly to anyone, especially the children.
This is going to be an emotional time. It is common and natural to not want to face this and wish that it just goes away. You may become focused solely on your own needs and agenda at the time and not see the bigger picture because you are so close to it. This is especially true if you represent yourself.
Here is what your litigation coach will do for you?
Typically, we want to be involved with you before the court is involved with making decisions for your family. It is our goal to keep you out of litigation. We will work with you and your spouse/partner if he or she so desires and try to bring about as much agreement as possible before getting into the courtroom. Our goal is to maintain open lines of communication as this is the most efficient and effective manner to resolving conflict.
We are aware that often times the parties are so embroiled in battle that communication outside of legal pleadings is not possible. In those situations we will make you aware of techniques that can be used to open lines of communication and also to keep this from harming the children.We can provide the network of support that you need while going through this process. You may need someone to vent your frustration to, help you manage financial matters, address your emotional ups and downs or dress you properly for court. Whatever service you receive from us yo will find that our goal is the same as yours; the unification of your children with their caring, supportive and loving parents.
You will have a choice to make in that you will either hire an attorney to represent you or you will represent yourself. If you choose to hire an attorney we will be there to do the interviews. We will ask the questions that you need to ask of these attorneys. We will make sure the attorney you get is competent enough to represent you and, most importantly, we will make sure that the attorney understands that this will not be business as usual. If you chose not to hire an attorney we can also help you.
Your self-representation is also called pro se though more courts are going with the less formal 'self-represented' party. Maneuvering through the maze of rules and procedures can be a daunting task for the trained lawyer and more so for the pro se litigant. But, it can be effectively done with the proper coaching and support. Your Litigation Coach will assess your needs and provide you with the appropriate instruction and resources that you need to be able to effectively represent yourself.
Did you know that most non-custodial parents [NCP's] who are entitled to a support modification to bring it in-line with what they can afford do not get one because they believe they can‘t afford to? However, they cannot afford not to. If you are out of work or don’t have another family to care for then you have the time available to learn the law and how to file for a modification. The Guidelines were substantially modified in 2009. These changes went into effect on 01 January 2010. The only thing you now lack is the knowledge and experience which you will gain from someone who has been through the process guiding you as you go through it.
If you do not have the best interest of your children in mind we will not assist you. For that reason we do require that you complete an application and pay a small evaluation fee.
Criminal Defense
We also handle criminal matters where child custody may be an issue. This could be a charge of invasion of privacy against the child's other parent or simply a criminal charge that will later be used to deny custody rights to you.
Nearly all criminal cases are resolved through plea agreements. Many times people plead guilty to something they did not do or to an offense that is not actually a crime. There are numerous reasons, but often, it is lazy or unethical lawyers and prosecutors. When faced with the prospect of working to prepare a defense in a jury trial, or simply making phone calls and going through the procedural steps of pleading you guilty, the lawyers usually take the easy way out. They are also mindful that if you are acquitted then you are done with them. Probationers face revocation in about half of all cases and nearly always seek to have a lawyer by their sides.The lawyer who will stand beside you in court is often a regular in the courtroom and is not going to go against the status quo. Why should he? He is often a buddy of the judge or prosecutor. It is almost like you and some friends sitting down to play a game of cards. In this situation there is one big difference between you and the attorneys; they have nothing to lose, you do! Is that the type of person you want advocating for you?
Often times attorneys take on too many clients and are unable to give each the individual and specialized attention that they deserve. This is especially true of public defenders. In criminal cases there is a mountain of paperwork that can be filed and pretrial hearings that can be requested. This is one tool that can be used to get a dismissal. Your litigation coach will ensure that you are prepared to represent yourself or that your attorney is prepared to and is aggressively advocating for you.
Here is what your litigation coach will do for you?
Typically, we want to be involved with you before an attorney is representing you and already working on backroom deals to ensure your conviction. Our goal will be to keep you out of jail and the courtroom altogether if possible. It may be through negotiation with the prosecutor or just telling him that he will be taking the case to a jury trial and will get flooded with paperwork.
Your Litigation Coach can provide the legal, moral and emotional support that you need while going through this process. Facing a criminal charge is serious and often scary, especially for those without knowledge of the process. Our goal will be the same as yours, to see that criminals be appropriately punished and the innocent go free. You will have a choice to make in that you will either hire an attorney to represent you or you will represent yourself. If you choose to hire an attorney we will be there to do the interviews. We will ask the questions that you need to ask of these attorneys. We will make sure the attorney you get is competent enough to represent you and, most importantly, we will make sure that the attorney understands that this will not be business as usual. If you chose not to hire an attorney we can also help with that.
Your self-representation is called pro se though more courts are going with the less formal 'self-represented' party. Maneuvering through the maze of rules and procedures can be a daunting task for the trained attorney and more so for the pro se litigant. But, it can be effectively done with the proper coaching and support. Your Litigation Coach will assess your needs and provide you with the appropriate instruction and resources that you need to be able to effectively represent yourself.
Additionally, we can
provide the non legal professionals necessary to ensure that you have
your best day in court. This may include mental health
professionals, hair and wardrobe consultants or consultation for
proper courtroom demeanor. We can even conduct mock trials.
If you are committing crimes without remorse we will not assist you. For that reason we do require that you complete an application and pay a small evaluation fee.
What do you know about your
right to remain silent when questioned by police?
This survey is now closed
View the Answers
View the Results