Meeting Your Divorce Attorney: The Initial Consultation
The stress associated with divorce causes many to dread the first encounter with their divorce attorney. Even if it’s the right decision for everyone involved, it’s still hard to get through the process. There were nearly 700,000 divorces reported in the U.S. in 2022, so you don’t have to feel alone in this struggle.
But meeting with a divorce lawyer doesn’t have to be scary or stressful. Before you step into our office for the first time, it may be helpful to learn what you might expect from the experience.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
The first thing that generally happens before the initial consultation is a conflict of interest check, but there’s no need to feel singled out by this. It doesn’t mean our office has anything against you. This is just standard practice as a way to make sure that there are no situations that would make it impossible for us to represent you in court.
The conflict check may be done by another member of the staff at the divorce attorney’s office. Provided there aren’t any issues, our office will reach out to make an appointment.
Meeting for the First Time
At this first meeting, you’ll want to make sure you’re ready to talk about your situation both emotionally and mentally. It’s helpful to both the attorney and you if you have all the facts straight beforehand.
This first meeting should feel more like a conversation than an interrogation, but you will likely be expected to do most of the talking. Your potential attorney will want to learn everything they can from you, so prepare for a lot of questions.
Some information may be reviewed multiple times and from different angles to ensure that a complete and accurate picture is portrayed. This is all so the attorney has everything they need to know about the circumstances in your situation to build the strongest case possible.
All About You
The attorney will probably start with basic personal information like your address and how to get in touch with you. They will then move on to your background as it pertains to this family law matter.
You’ll be asked about when you got married and if you and your spouse have any kids together. Your attorney will want to know their names and how old they are.
Next, you’ll talk about where you and your spouse work and how much money you both make. The attorney will ask about any liabilities and assets that you both have.
Assets encompass things like vehicles, stocks, bonds and accounts including retirement. Liabilities encompass student loans, mortgages and credit card debt. You’ll need to know how much you have in each account. Your lawyer will also ask about your current income.
Be prepared to talk about any prenuptial agreements that were made. Your potential lawyer will ask if there were any assets held by you or your spouse before you got married and that you still retain. They will also need to know whether either of you inherited money at some point while you were married.
Potential Problems
You’ll then discuss the obstacles that your case presents. Custody and parenting time are common examples, along with the associated money matters of child support and alimony. There’s also the cost of college tuition and the myriad other expenses that come with it.
Your attorney will run you through the property division principle of equitable distribution when it comes to your real estate, bank accounts and liabilities. You’ll also discuss the potential need for an expert witness to help build a strong case.
Alternate Dispute Resolution
You may talk about alternative ways to resolve the dispute. These include collaborative divorce, arbitration and mediation. Your lawyer will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each when compared to standard courtroom divorce proceedings.
If you do decide that traditional litigation is best for you, your divorce lawyer will then give you a breakdown of the judicial procedures to expect, how long the process takes and important dates to keep in mind.
Finally, you’ll also talk about the financial aspects of working with the attorney. These include the method of payment, how much they charge per hour, the initial retainer and the frequency of billing.
Call the Law Office of Joanne Kleiner at 215-886-1266 for a Pennsylvania divorce attorney who will work with you through every step of the way. You can also visit our office in Jenkintown at 261 Old York Road, Suite 402.