Dealing with a family law matter can be a trying and difficult time for anyone. Deciding whether to hire an attorney and which attorney to hire can be stressful in itself. That is why it is important that a Family Law Consultation with an attorney be a productive event for you and the attorney.
If you do not already have one, finding a family law attorney can be a time-consuming and intimidating process. With emotions running high you may not be thinking straight. At a consultation, you and the attorney will discuss a range of issues, some of which may be more important than others.
It is important to know what to expect when you have your family law consultation. By knowing in advance what to expect, you will be able to prepare ahead of time. This way you can have any necessary information at your fingertips during your meeting.
Family Law Consultation – Tell Your Story
Your first goal as a family law consultation is to accomplish 2 things:
- Tell the attorney your story and what your goals are with your case.
- The attorney, in turn, gives you honest advice about his opinion of your chances of obtaining those goals.
A good attorney will be completely honest with you (and sometimes brutally so) about his thoughts on your case.
It is important to remember that a person may sometimes have unrealistic expectations about their case. It is up to the attorney to reign in those expectations in some cases. An attorney does a disservice to a potential client if they blindly agree with their client’s position, or promise unrealistic results.
What Information Should You Bring
It is important to know some key pieces of information when going in for a consultation. If the consultation is regarding a divorce, you should know the following:
- The date of your marriage
- Date of separation (if applicable),
- and other general biographical details
If alimony or child support is an issue, it is useful to know you and your spouse’s income level. You should also know your children’s dates of birth if children are in fact involved.
Finally, if the division of assets or debts is an issue, it can be very helpful to give the consulting attorney as much information as possible about all available assets and outstanding debts from the marriage.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The more information you can provide the attorney with an initial consultation, the better he or she can advise you of their honest opinion about your case.
It is of paramount importance to not lie or cover up any damaging information during the consultation. Your attorney needs to know all aspects of your case, the good, bad, and ugly.
By meeting with an attorney, even if only for a consultation, you develop a limited attorney-client relationship that includes attorney-client confidentiality. Therefore, you can feel free to be open and honest with the consulting attorney. This is true even if there are issues that embarrass or discomfort you.
By providing as much information as possible, you should be able to get a good indication of how your case in your initial consultation. You will get a feeling for the attorney and their style, and if you believe that it will be a good fit.
Family Law matters are emotionally charged, and it is important that you ask questions, and make sure you understand the process. Many times cases are slow in a proceeding and having good communication and a good working relationship with your attorney is paramount.
The experienced Jacksonville Family Law Attorneys at Harris Guidi Rosner make communication a top priority. Give them a call at 904-777-7777 to set up your free initial consultation. Give us a chance to prove our commitment to helping you through tough times.
