If have a court date, do I need to come with a lawyer or can I get one at a later date?
Question Details: I have a court date in august for custody of my child and im worried that my ex will show up with a lawyer and I will lose. I dont want to pay a retainer for a lawyer if I dont need one but I dont want to lose if he shows up with one. Could I wait till our first hearing and then gain legal council if he shows up with his own counsel?
Courts will generally grant you a brief adjournment, a new court hearing, if you appear on an initial case hearing and indicated you would like to have time to hire an attorney. You need to be aware of the fact that your husband's attorney could ask the court to grant temporary relief while you seek an attorney and you may not be prepared to address that issue.
However, there is no guarantee and I would recommend that you consult with an attorney first before going to the hearing so that you know the process as well as your rights.
