what do i need to bring for my consultation with family law lawyer

You should plan to bring them with you to your initial consultation. Examples of legal documents include prenuptial agreements, marriage certificates, social security cards, wills, powers of attorney. If you are in receipt of any letters or pleadings from an attorney representing your spouse, bring those along, too.

Full Answer

What information will my family lawyer need during my consultation?

Your family attorney will need the following basic pieces of information in your initial consultation: Information on your spouse, including where he or she works Important aspects of your relationship, including details about the personalities and behaviors of you and your spouse

How do I get an attorney consultation?

Before you can have an attorney consultation, you need to find a lawyer who might be a good fit. Look for an attorney who focuses his or her practice on your type of legal question, or someone who lists this as a type of law they regularly practice.

How do I discuss my family law case with an attorney?

You’re now prepared to discuss your family law case with an attorney. Set up your free, confidential case discussion with a family lawyer at the Law Office of Laurence J. Brock. Call us at 909-466-7661 or fill out the online contact form at the bottom of the page to get started.

How do I select an attorney for my case?

Another important component of selecting an attorney is finding out how the firm will handle and manage your case. In large firms, it is common for other attorneys to work on the case, so the people actually doing the work on your case might not be the person you first meet with.

How do you prepare to meet a lawyer?

Tips For Meeting With Your Lawyer For the First TimeDress To Impress. ... Be Ready To Give Your Attorney Important Information About Yourself. ... Gather Your Evidence And Have It Ready For Your First Meeting. ... Get Your Facts Straight. ... Plan Something You Can Look Forward To For After Your Meeting.

What should I ask for in my divorce?

5 Things To Make Sure Are Included In Your Divorce SettlementA detailed parenting-time schedule—including holidays! ... Specifics about support. ... Life insurance. ... Retirement accounts and how they will be divided. ... A plan for the sale of the house.

Why moving out is the biggest mistake in a divorce?

You Can Damage Your Child Custody Claim One of the most significant ways moving out can influence your divorce is when it comes to child custody. If you move out, it means you don't spend as much time with your kids. Not only can this harm your relationship, but it can also damage your custody claim.

What can wife claim in divorce?

For example, under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, both the husband and wife are legally entitled to claim permanent alimony and maintenance. However, if the couple marries under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, only the wife is entitled to claim permanent alimony and maintenance.

What to ask before getting a divorce?

Questions about what you're providing emotionally. About whether or not certain circumstances out of your control are changing the way you see your marriage. About whether you're doing enough or simply deflecting the blame. About compromise, About growth.

What should you not do during separation?

5 Mistakes To Avoid During Your SeparationKeep it private. The second you announce you're getting a divorce, everyone will have an opinion. ... Don't leave the house. ... Don't pay more than your share. ... Don't jump into a rebound relationship. ... Don't put off the inevitable.

Does it make a difference who files for divorce first?

Filing for divorce first does not give you any inherent rights over your spouse. One benefit is that if the specific facts of your case warrant, you could have a choice of which county—and sometimes which state — to file the paperwork in. To be clear, you cannot just file in any ol' location.

What to do before asking for a divorce?

Top 10 Things to Do Before You File For a DivorceNever Threaten to Divorce Until You Are Ready To File. ... Organize Your Documents. ... Focus on Your Children. ... Make Sure You Have Three Months of Financial Resources. ... Obtain the Best Legal Advice You Can Get. ... Make Sure You Have Available Credit.More items...

What is alimony in divorce?

Alimony, also called spousal support, is financial assistance provided to a spouse so that they can maintain their standard of living they were accustomed to prior to the divorce.

What is a family law attorney?

A family law attorney can help with any separation issues an individual may have. A divorce is the legal end of a marriage. Laws regarding divorce vary by state but all divorces are finalized by a court. Divorces can be a straight forward agreement or a complex case involving children.

What is paternity in law?

Paternity refers to a legal process where the biological father of a child is determined. If a couple is married, paternity is usually determined when the father signs the birth certificate. If a baby is born to an unwed mother, a court order may be required to establish paternity.

What is child support?

Child support is financial support provided by a non-custodial parent to the custodial parent. A child support agreement can be entered into voluntarily by the parties or can be court-ordered. Child support is intended for the support and care of the child and/or children.

How to protect your rights in a family law case?

It is essential to protect your rights in any family law matter. Do: Be honest with your attorney and provide all requested information. Sometimes, it can feel like you must turn over your entire life, but this is only so your attorney can be prepared for any issues in your case.

What is family law?

Family law includes the rules, regulations, and court procedures involving the family unit. It is common for family law cases to be difficult, personal, and emotional. A family law attorney will help a client prepare for any type of case involving the family unit. The types of preparations that will be required will depend on the type ...

Why do courts prefer to appoint a guardian?

A court prefers to appoint a guardian who has ties to the ward because great responsibility is involved. A family law attorney can assist an individual who wishes to become a guardian and/or protect the rights of a ward. Paternity refers to a legal process where the biological father of a child is determined.

Divorce

In the typical divorce case, we will be talking about how long you have been married, the reasons for the divorce, whether there are children of the marriage, and your respective incomes.

Child Custody

If you have any previous Court Orders from any Court about the child or children and their custody, I will want to see them. Other than that you probably don’t need to bring any documents to this type of consult. They won’t help that much.

Child Support

Child support is all about the numbers. These numbers include each party’s income, the cost of health insurance, the cost of daycare and the number of overnights with each parent.

Adoption

With adoption cases, most of the first consultation will be talking about whether the adoption is the best legal plan for your situation. Sometimes an adoption is very easy and clear cut. Sometimes adoption can be very complicated.

Setting the Fee

Once we agree on a strategy I can tell you what your case will cost. We may be able to do your case for a flat fee. We may structure that flat fee in various stages.

Conclusion & Next Steps

The best thing in any family law case is to be as honest as possible when we meet. All family law cases are fact driven. The unique facts of your situation will determine the advice I give you. The more truthful and detailed you can be – the better advice I can give you.

What to ask a lawyer about a case?

An important question to ask a lawyer is what the strategy for your case will be and the outcome the lawyer expects. You’ll want to get details on what kind of procedures to expect. Ask how long it will take for the entire case to be resolved. Discuss the legal strategies that will be used. Find out if your attorney will attempt to settle and if mediation or arbitration are options. Think about the answers and if you are comfortable with them. Maybe you want to avoid a trial at all costs but your attorney really wants to just go to trial, or perhaps you have no intention of settling and want your day in court. It is important that your lawyer’s strategy lines up with your needs.

What is a meeting with a lawyer?

Meeting with a lawyer for an initial consultation is generally not a chance to ask legal questions that are in depth, but is instead an opportunity to get a sense as to whether this lawyer is the right one to handle your case. Use this meeting to help you decide which lawyer will be the best one for your case.

Why is it important to meet with a small business attorney?

Meeting with a small business attorney is an important way to get your business off to a good start and minimize future risks. Here are questions to ask at your first meeting.

Why do lawyers offer free consultations?

Most lawyers offer a free consultation so that you have a chance to determine if he or she is the right person for you. Going to the first meeting with some simple questions can help you ensure you find the right person for the legal help you need. You will not get much legal advice at this consult since it is not meant to resolve your legal ...

Can you ask where an attorney went to law school?

It is generally not very helpful to ask where the attorney went to law school since you can find this information online and it often tells you nothing useful anyhow. Focus instead on experience with your type of case. You can also ask the average verdict the lawyer has obtained in your type of case.