Christopher Heberg | Warwick Family Lawyer

• State of Rhode Island Family Law ‘Inns of Court’
• American Bar Association-Member, Family Law Section

The most significant difference I have made for a client in the past year was during my representation of a father who had been falsely accused of sexually abusing his children. Although the process was long, arduous, and expensive, we ultimately were able to show that the mother had fabricated the claims, and returned custody to the father.

I built a successful practice through a tremendous amount of hard work. I am diligent in always returning telephone calls within the day, and my clients know that I will aggressively pursue their goals in the courtroom. Most of my new cases now come from referrals based upon the work that I have provided for previous clients.

The number one thing a client should look for in a lawyer is experience. Experience allows a lawyer to best understand the law, and how to use it to his advantage so he can benefit his client. They should also meet with as many lawyers as possible and choose the lawyer they believe best understands their circumstances and goals. The attorney and client must set reasonable and achievable goals in order for there to be a successful attorney/client relationship.

Local knowledge is everything in Family Court. If your attorney does not know your Judge, he is lost. The attorney must be able to determine what a Judge will likely do in order to best advise the client. It is only through experience in the handling of hundreds, if not thousands, of cases that attorneys will gain this knowledge.

In an initial telephone consultation, I can certainly set forth what to expect for the client. I can give the client a broad overview of the law, as well as identify the issues that the client will need to deal with. I can also tell them the likely outcome of certain issues, and give them a good idea of what to expect in terms of cost and time.

During a free telephone consultation, I will usually ask the client how long they have been married, whether they have children, how old their children are, whether they own property, whether they have equity in their homes, where they work, how much they earn, whether they receive retirement income, what kind of automobiles do they drive, and whether they have debt. I ask these questions because these are common issues that must be resolved during a divorce. Quite frankly, the more issues generally means the more time and cost associated with a divorce.

What differentiates me from other lawyers in the community is my experience and my dogged pursuit to achieve clients' goals. I am relatively fearless in Court, and I am not intimidated by Judges. I am also very fair in my billing and costs for clients. While I bill for all of my work performed, I never generate phantom bills and I send out monthly invoices to all clients so they can accurately track the time and effort I have put into their case and the cost of the litigation.