what should i expect at a divorce attorney consultation visit

You should have a discussion with your attorney about what the divorce process is like so that you know what to expect. Ask about the general process and steps, the documentation needed, temporary orders/agreements that may be needed, and an approximate timeline.

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What should I ask during my initial consultation with a divorce?

Jul 29, 2021 · What You Should Expect at a Divorce Consultation You already that you will be doing most of the talking since the case revolve around you. The divorce attorney will ask you for some information. Here are some of the details that the lawyer will ask you for during the initial consultations for the divorce meeting. Email address; Home address

What should I expect during my first meeting with my divorce lawyer?

Nov 11, 2017 · After gathering information about your case, the attorney will discuss any potential issues that you may face during the divorce, such as custody and parenting time. Financial aspects will also be discussed, including child support, alimony , equitable distribution, college tuition, real estate , debts and other assets.

What is a divorce consultation?

Mar 22, 2020 · When it comes to meeting in person, the right attorney for you should clearly and carefully answer your questions and explain their processes. They should be compassionate and sensitive to your emotional state. You should leave your consultation feeling like you have a good idea of the next steps and what to expect.

What should I expect at my first consultation with an attorney?

At the first visit, the divorce attorney should explain to you what is likely community property in your case. I use the word "likely" because there are facts you may not know and which may surprise you during the divorce. Some spouse's do not know the details of when and how you and your spouse (or just your spouse) acquired certain assets.

What is the purpose of a divorce consultation?

The main purpose of the consultation is to discuss your case. Essentially, you are having a conversation with the lawyer about your pending divorce, and you should be the one doing most of the talking.

What information do divorce attorneys need?

Along with the details of your case, the divorce attorney will also gather some basic personal information, including your: address, phone number and email address. The attorney will also want to gather background information, which may include:

How to get divorce information?

Along with the details of your case, the divorce attorney will also gather some basic personal information, including your: address, phone number and email address. The attorney will also want to gather background information, which may include: 1 The date of the marriage 2 Employment information of both spouses 3 Names and ages of the children 4 Income information, including assets and debts 5 Whether or not there was a prenuptial agreement in place

What are the issues that a divorce attorney will discuss?

After gathering information about your case, the attorney will discuss any potential issues that you may face during the divorce, such as custody and parenting time. Financial aspects will also be discussed, including child support, alimony, equitable distribution, college tuition, real estate, debts and other assets.

What is the first consultation?

The initial consultation is a great opportunity to get a “feel” for the attorney and determine whether he or she is a good fit for you. Asking questions can help you gauge the attorney’s competence and whether you will get along well.

What will happen during a divorce consultation?

What will happen during your consultation will depend on where your divorce case is at. For example, in some cases, divorce papers have already been filed. In many cases, the couple has already discussed the divorce and decided to work together through the process rather than fighting in court.

What is a consultation with an attorney?

Your consultation is your chance to ask your attorney some important questions. You might have an idea of how things are going to go, but it's important to have an open line of communication with your attorney.

What to ask after a consultation?

After your consultation, you may be asked to do some research to learn as much as you can about your finances, assets, liabilities, and regular expenses. It's important for both parties to have a clear understanding of their shared assets, debts, and incomes. It's also important to note that this meeting is confidential.

What happens if you don't bring anything to your attorney?

If you don't bring anything, your attorney will have a harder time evaluating your case. You'll have to produce this information eventually so you can expedite the process by presenting it at your consultation. These are a few of the things you should bring.

What documents are needed for a marriage?

You should bring any legal paperwork that is relevant to your marriage. This might include: 1 Prenuptial agreements 2 You and your children's social security cards and passports 3 Birth certificates of children 4 Documents from any prior legal proceedings involving your children or spouse 5 Separation agreements

Can a divorce attorney tell you what the results are?

No attorney can guarantee to you a particular result. However, experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorneys should be able to tell you what the typical and results are in cases similar to yours. The more factual disagreement there is between you and your spouse, the harder it is to estimate the potential outcome.

Do experienced divorce attorneys know the law?

Experienced divorce attorneys will not struggle to answer your questions. Experienced divorce attorneys should rarely not know the law. The better divorce attorneys even show you the law in our codes.

What can a divorce attorney do for you?

An experienced and knowledgeable divorce attorney will provide you with the tools to communicate better with your spouse. These tools include how to communicate with your spouse, when to communicate with your spouse and how to diffuse conflict.

Can a divorce attorney answer alimony questions?

It will be more difficult for a divorce attorney to answer your questions about the ultimate alimony amount at the judgment phase. That is because the attorney would have to first conduct or have a proper expert conduct a marital standard of living analysis, which includes an analysis of Family Code 4320.

How to plan your life after a divorce?

If you want to plan your life after a divorce, you should at least have a general idea of how long divorces similar to yours take. This planning will also help you prepare a budget for the cost of divorce. The attorney should truthfully tell you there is no way to predict exactly how long a divorce will take.

Why do you use "likely" in divorce?

I use the word "likely" because there are facts you may not know and which may surprise you during the divorce.

How often do attorneys communicate?

The more complex the case, the more the communication will likely take place. A typical case has communication between one to four times per month.

Is it a good idea to talk to a lawyer about divorce?

If you’ve made up your mind and there’s no alternative but divorce, talking to at least a few lawyers is always a good idea. The first consultation is usually always free, so you’ve got nothing to lose. But, you can gain a lot of information during attorney interviews if you head into the conversation armed with the right questions.

Can you represent yourself in divorce?

Most states allow individuals to represent themselves in the divorce process. And, it’s more common than you think: 80 percent of divorces involve at least one party representing themselves. Lots of people go this route – which means you can, too.

How long did it take Elizabeth to get divorced?

Having this goal in mind helped keep things moving, and as a result, her divorce took 364 days between her initial filing and final judgment.

What is an initial divorce consultation?

A productive initial divorce consultation can provide a toolbox of information allowing you to reflect on your situation before taking the next steps. Scheduling an initial divorce consultation is a big step, especially if your spouse is not pursuing divorce. However, going to an initial divorce consultation does not necessarily mean you intend ...

What are the issues in divorce?

Typical divorce issues include division of assets and liabilities, child custody, child support, and spousal support. If you decide to divorce, fighting it out in court is only one option. At the consultation, you can learn about the litigation process.

Can you fight divorce in court?

If you decide to divorce, fighting it out in court is only one option. At the consultation, you can learn about the litigation process. In addition, you can learn about divorce mediation and collaborative divorce processes. These processes provide out of court settlements.

1. Experience

It is always important to determine if your potential attorney fills the profile that you are looking for.

2. Advice

Don’t be afraid to ask: “What is a piece of advice you give to every client?”

4. Working Together

You and your attorney will essentially become a team, therefore great communication and clarity of expectations are key to ensure a great outcome.

5. Costs

Finally, but not least important, every firm charges differently, and it might be helpful to understand how that works.

What to do if you have been keeping a calendar of events?

Calendars/Journals. If you’ve been keeping a calendar of events or journaling, you should consider bringing those to help jog your memory about timeline and events. Inflammatory Documents. Don’t hold back from your attorney.

What is an intake form for family law?

Most family law lawyers have an intake form that gives them a snapshot of the issues and your goals, and gives them important details about you and your family. At McCabe Russell, we don’t require you to fill it out our intake form advance, but if you can, it helps us move forward. Agreements.