What to do when consulting with a family law atto ey.

The thought of actually sitting down and consulting with a divorce or family law atto
ey can be intimidating. Don’t be the person that waits until the last minute to hire an atto
ey which increases the cost of the representation and may give the other party the upper hand.

We recommend that instead of waiting until your spouse has had time to develop a detailed strategic plan, interview atto
eys early and hire as soon as possible. Here are some tips on how to prepare so that you can get the most out of a consultation with an atto
ey.

1. Bring relevant court documents

Whether you have been served with divorce papers or are interested in modifying your current custody arrange, bring any relevant documents to share with the atto
ey you are consulting with. Those documents will give the atto
ey the best picture of your status and will allow for you to get the most relevant information during your consultation.

2. Have a list of questions ready

This is probably your first experience with a family law matter and you likely unsure of how to proceed and have a lot of questions. Bringing a list of questions will help you to remember all the pertinent issues and will help the atto
ey to provide as much information as possible.

3. Don’t wait until last minute

Many family law matters are time sensitive in nature. If you have been served with a petition for divorce or petition to modify a parent child relationship you only have until the Monday after the 20th day since you were served to file a response. Often the papers you were served with will include a hearing date. Waiting until the last minute to meet with an atto
ey puts you at a disadvantage; it is very difficult to prepare for a hearing that is the next day. Consult with an atto
ey as soon as you have been served with court documents or notice of a hearing so that you can be as prepared as possible.

4. Think before you bring a crowd

The idea of consulting with a family law atto
ey may be daunting and you may want to bring moral support. Consultations are covered under the atto
ey-client privilege; anything you say in the consultation must remain confidential. That privilege is lost if a third party is in the room with you, so it’s best to come alone to a consultation.

If possible, avoid bringing your children or family members to the initial consultation. Children can be a distraction and you’re trying to establish a relationship with a potential atto
ey and get as much information as possible in a short amount of time. Also, while family members are an excellent source for support and understanding they tend to have questions or their own and may consume a substantial amount of your time with the atto
ey. Remember, you will also need to discuss sensitive topics, such as abuse, adultery or substance abuse issues, and your children don’t need to be subject to such a conversation.