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What to Bring When Interviewing a Family Law or Divorce Attorney
Meeting a divorce attorney for the first time can be intimidating and it certainly isn't a decision that should be made flippantly. Make the most of your first appointment with a divorce or family law attorney by following these simple steps.
Be prepared with a list of questions.
Prepare a list of questions regarding your situation. A good attorney should be able to answer most of your questions in the initial consultation and often answers many of them before you even ask them. Many frequently asked questions are 1) How long will my case take; and 2) What will my case cost. Do not be afraid to ask any questions, even if you think they are silly or minor. Minor questions often lead into issues that may be significant. Some questions cannot be answered immediately and may depend on the information you provide. You may not like all of the answers you receive. If you get the sense that an attorney is only telling you what you want to hear, it is probably not the right attorney for you.
Review your finances before your appointment.
If you have been the spouse to maintain the household finances, make sure you have a general idea of your marital assets (e.g. house, cars, bank accounts, retirement accounts, stocks/bonds, etc.) and marital debts (e.g. credit cards, personal loans, lines of credit, mortgage(s), etc.). If you don't have access to this information, we can request that the other spouse provide the information. Be aware of both of your incomes, too, and any recent or potential changes to either of your incomes.
Arrive early
Most attorneys require that you paperwork prior to the start of your appointment. Our intake paperwork is relatively brief and doesn't take much time to complete.
Bring all your court records
If your case is already initiated, bring all the documents and pleadings associated with your case so the attorney can review it and provide you with specific information rather than having to speculate based on what the papers "might" say. If you have been served, there are response deadlines, so make your appointment as soon as possible.
Ask your attorney to discuss his/her billing standards
Unless you are quoted a fixed/flat fee (unusual in divorce cases), it is impossible at the first meeting for an attorney to definitively say how much the case will cost. Every case is different, and there is no way to predict how complicated a case might become. There are certain steps that will occur in any given family law or divorce action, and your attorney should be able to give you a sense of how much time should be involved in each of these steps. Ask if there are ways to keep the cost of litigation down, too, like communicating with support staff primarily instead of with the attorney.
Trust your gut
This is a major decision that may affect your life for quite some time. You need to feel comfortable telling your attorney anything, good or bad. No matter how highly recommended someone comes, if you don't think it is a good "fit," move on to someone else.
More info: Arizona Divorce Attorney
