If you are considering hiring an attorney to help you with a family law-related matter, you may wonder if there is an attorney-client privilege in Florida family law cases. So, is the information you share with your family law attorney privileged? Yes, attorney-client privilege, which is a legal privilege aimed at keeping confidential communication between a lawyer and their client private, applies to Florida family law cases. Whether it is an adoption case, divorce case, paternity case, child support case, timesharing case, spousal support case, or property division case, the information you share with your family law attorney is privileged. Whatever you say to your family law attorney remains a secret between the two of you unless you have waived your right to attorney-client privilege.
Are There Limitations to the Attorney-Client Privilege?
There are limitations to the attorney-client privilege. For example, if you share information about committing fraud or other crimes, that information is not privileged. If you share information about your plans to harm yourself or another person, the attorney-client privilege does not apply. Also, some information might be privileged, while other information is not. For instance, the location, date, or time of a meeting with your attorney may not be considered privileged information, even if the conversation between you and your attorney is privileged.
Another thing you should not know about limitations to the attorney-client privilege is that if you discuss your legal case with your attorney, and then you discuss your case with another person, you may be giving up your attorney-client privilege. You may also be giving up your privilege if someone else is there with you when you meet with your attorney.
Whenever you meet with your family law attorney, it is best that you ask them if the information you share is privileged before sharing any information. You do not want to share sensitive information that could be used against you in a setting where the attorney-client privilege does not apply.
Should I Tell My Family Law Attorney Everything?
Now that you know there is an attorney-client privilege in family law cases, you may be wondering if that means you should disclose all information to your attorney. So, should you tell your family law attorney everything? The attorney-client privilege exists so that clients can feel comfortable sharing any information with their attorney. This privilege exists so that you do not have to worry about your attorney revealing information you share with them to others. It is in your best interest to utilize the attorney-client privilege to your advantage. It is best that you avoid leaving out crucial details when talking with your family law attorney. If you leave out vital details, your attorney may not be able to offer you the legal assistance you need. Furthermore, if certain details you kept from your attorney are revealed during the course of your case (and often, they are), it could adversely affect your case. No matter how damaging you think a piece of information is, it would help if you shared it with your attorney so they can develop a strategy to handle the issue from the start.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you are dealing with a family law-related matter and need a skilled family law attorney to help you, schedule a consultation at Tampa Bay Legal Center, P.A. You can reach us by calling (813)-341-3333 or filling out our online contact form.
