Your marriage is ending. Perhaps a custody dispute has started. Or you need help figuring out child support. Whatever brought you here, you’re likely facing one of the hardest chapters a family can go through. On top of the emotional weight, you now have to find the right lawyer.
That search alone can feel overwhelming, especially with so much conflicting information online.
American Law Link makes that search easier. We help Californians connect at no cost with the right family law attorney for their situation.
Why Use a Family Law Attorney Referral Network?
Family law covers a lot of ground. Divorce is different from a custody dispute. Child support is different from dividing property. Each area is often high-stakes, and experienced legal help improves the chances of achieving the outcome you want.
A family law attorney who mostly handles high-asset divorces may not be the best fit for a contested custody case. The reverse may also be true.
Searching online may not solve this problem. Search results and directories often show whichever lawyer paid the most for placement. That is not the same as the lawyer best suited to your situation. We exist specifically to close that gap.
Every case looks different depending on the facts. We cannot tell you how the law applies to your specific situation. But we can connect you with a lawyer who can.
What Does Family Law Cover?
A family law attorney can handle various matters, including:
- Divorce,
- Child custody,
- Child support,
- Spousal support, and
- Property division.
We can also connect you with lawyers who handle other types of family law cases. This includes paternity, adoption, guardianship, restraining orders, and prenuptial or postnuptial agreements.
How Do We Match You with a Family Law Attorney?
We don’t simply hand you the name of a lawyer from a list. Every lawyer on our family law panel must meet real standards first.
Before we ever refer a client, each lawyer must show:
- At least three years of experience, with a meaningful share of their work dedicated to family law;
- No disciplinary action from the State Bar in the past six years;
- No successful client lawsuits against them in the past six years;
- Professional liability insurance; and
- Good standing with the State Bar of California.
Lawyers certified by the State Bar as family law specialists automatically qualify for our panel. Beyond these baseline standards, we consider other details for each match.
This includes checking the following details for each lawyer:
- Their specialist area of family law,
- Their availability,
- Their pricing,
- Their experience with cases like yours,
- Their track record,
- Their main languages, and
- Their peer reviews.
If the initial referral is not a good fit, you can contact us about whether another referral may be appropriate.
Is Our Family Law Attorney Referral Network Really Free?
Yes. There is no cost to you for using American Law Link. We receive a referral fee from the lawyer who handles your case. We do not charge lawyers a membership fee at present. This means we have no financial reason to overload a single lawyer with cases. We also have no reason to steer you toward a poor fit just to fill a quota.
Additionally, American Law Link operates under the State Bar’s certification and regulatory requirements and must cooperate with State Bar audits.
Why Do California Courts Allow Legal Referral Networks Like Ours?
This might sound unusual at first. However, a landmark case in the California Court of Appeals, recognized by the State Bar, determined that this system may benefit those seeking legal representation. The court held that these referral arrangements are not against public policy. Its reasoning was simple. A referral fee gives lawyers a real incentive to seek out experienced specialists. Without that incentive, lawyers might keep cases they are not suited for because turning away business feels like a loss.
How Is This Different from Searching Online or Using a Legal Form Service?
Online legal directories often work on a pay-to-play basis. Placement there may depend on advertising spend rather than how well a lawyer fits your case.
Services that generate standard forms don’t provide a tailored legal strategy. A referral through American Law Link works differently. It connects you with a licensed attorney who can evaluate your case. That attorney can then build an approach tailored to your specific situation.
It is also worth knowing something else. People sometimes hold themselves out as attorneys without a license to practice law. Every lawyer on our panel gets verified first. We confirm each one is an active, licensed member of the State Bar in good standing. We do this before we ever make a referral.
FAQs
Do I Have to Hire the Lawyer I’m Referred To?
No. You can always decline a referral for any reason. We can then look for another match on your behalf.
What If the Lawyer I Am Referred to Cannot Take My Case?
We can find you another match. We keep looking until you are satisfied or decide our service is not right for you.
What Happens If I’m Not Satisfied with My Lawyer?
If you are concerned about your experience with a referred attorney, contact us. Depending on the circumstances, we may communicate with the attorney about the referral, request information about the status of the matter, or consider whether another referral is appropriate. American Law Link does not control the attorney’s independent professional judgment or provide legal advice about your case.
Find a Family Lawyer Now
Are you dealing with a divorce, a custody dispute, or any other family law matter in California? Choosing the wrong lawyer can cost you time, money, and, potentially, the outcome.
We can match you with a family lawyer who can help you understand your options and determine the right path forward. Getting that first step right can make the rest of the process feel far less overwhelming. Contact us to get started.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal and other resources during the content development process:
