Experienced family law attorneys know that it is sometimes necessary or desirable to hire other professionals to assist with particular issues in domestic cases. Of course, the types of professionals and tasks to be performed will vary, depending on the issues involved in each specific case. Other professionals commonly used include:
The professionals most commonly used in Family Court cases are private investigators. Not only can these professionals be very helpful in obtaining information about a spouse’s misconduct, they can also help with many other types of issues, such as child custody and visitation cases.
Mental health counselors are also helpful in many cases. These professionals can include psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, and custody evaluators. Their services provided range widely and include psychological evaluations, anger management, conflict resolution, child counseling, domestic violence, and parenting issues.
If parties cannot agree on the value of an asset, it may be necessary to hire an appraiser. Typically, the first type of appraiser that comes to mind is a real estate appraiser. However, there are also professional appraisers who can value anything from antiques, equipment, furniture, or collections to retirement accounts.
Accountants are used in many Family Court cases when difficult financial issues arise. The most common areas in which an accountant can be beneficial are
(a) determining the income of a self-employed individual
(b) valuing a retirement account
(c) determining the value of a business entity.
SOURCE: South Carolina Family Law Blog
