Independence divorce attorney Heather Early was drawn to family law because of personal experiences. While the family unit may change, the individual members often still need to interact. How a divorce or custody battle plays out has a huge effect on how that new family unit functions.

“It is always my hope, especially when children are involved, that at the end everyone is comfortable with their new reality,” Ms. Early said.

She always tries to treat clients how she hopes someone would treat her loved ones and believes every client deserves to be treated with kindness and dignity.

“Even though I know that clients are generally experiencing one of the most painful and difficult periods of their lives, cooler heads always prevail,” she said. “Usually, when we set aside the emotions, the process becomes easier to navigate.”