Making the Most From Your First Divorce Consultation
Taking the first step towards divorce begins with either or both of the spouses establishing that their marriage is irreparable and that divorce will be the best way to move forward. In the nature of many firsts, one might assume that going to a first divorce consultation will be quite daunting and intimidating. In reality, our attorneys will not quiz you on your marriage nor will make you sign dozens of documents.
Instead, our attorneys advise that you remain open during this initial stage as this will ultimately help you with your case. Since this is your initial consultation, here are some of the tips that you can take account of before speaking to our attorneys.
What to expect during the first divorce consultation
Expectations are always important especially in the matters of anything legal in nature.
In this first divorce consultation, your attorney will provide you with a brief information on how divorce proceedings usually go and of course, will ask you questions often relating to these:
- Children ie. custody and support.
- Properties
- Liabilities ie. debts and bank loans.
- Other assets ie. investments.
- Relevant information ie. social security numbers, names of people who might be involved in some way, other matters that will be pertinent down the road.
As you go through the consultation, your divorce attorney will also provide you of how your divorce may possibly be received by the jury and judge. Additionally, they can also provide you with a possible outcome of your divorce based on the information you have presented.
Hence, it is very important that you will be able to provide meaningful information to your attorney even if this is just the initial consultation.
How to prepare for your first divorce consultation
Preparing for your first divorce consultation involves preparing yourself emotionally and mentally. It is quite understandable that a divorce is a pretty emotionally-tumultuous event in anybody’s life.
A lot of times going through a divorce involve negative emotions. However, in order to get the most out of your initial consultation, having mental clarity and emotional stability is the best way to approach this initial consultation.
As our attorney has explained in the video, you need to feel comfortable and open. The more you feel comfortable and open, the more that you will be able to share and elaborate on the matters concerning your marriage. Rest assured, our attorneys will treat anything that you share with strict confidentiality in order to protect you and anyone else involved.
In turn, your divorce attorney will be able to have a gauge of the most appropriate legal advice to provide to you and the strategy appropriate to help you with your case.
It is worth noting however, that the attorney cannot provide you with a full legal advice unless they are your attorney at record or had been retained as your attorney.
Documents to bring for your first divorce consultation
Aside from preparing mentally and emotionally, there are also several documents that could help you have a meaningful first divorce consultation with your attorney.
Due to the personal nature of divorce, the documents that a person might bring might vary from person to person. Quintessentially, here’s a list of supporting documents that could aid you and your divorce attorney:
- Financial documents ie. recent tax returns and bank statements
- Exchanged conversations in the form of text messages, emails, or even written correspondences.
- Birth certificates of children
- Property certificates
- Proof of investments
- Incriminating documents that could ultimately support your petition or response.
Questions to ask during your first divorce consultation
Aside from the important documents that you can bring to support your case, you might be wondering what type of questions you can ask during your discussion. Well, basically, there’s a whole bunch of questions related to your case that you can ask your divorce attorney.
While seemingly bizarre inquiries should be left out of the table, questions regarding your attorney’s experience and even the number of cases they take on per year can be included in the list of questions that you can ask.
Questions are actually a good way of establishing rapport that can ultimately help you, as a client, feel that you can trust your divorce attorney with such a very delicate and important matter such as divorce. But, if you’re having difficulties coming up with your very own list, here are several questions that we would very much encourage you to ask:
- How long can my divorce take?
- Can my spouse help me pay for the attorney fees and other legal fees, for that matter?
- Should I move out from our shared accommodations while the divorce is on-going?
- Is it advisable to take all my children with me while the divorce is currently on-going?
- What will happen to my children while the divorce is currently on-going?
- Are there temporary orders that I can request from the court?
- Is there any spousal support that I can expect?
- Can I speak to my spouse while the divorce is on-going?
- Are there topics that I should refrain from speaking to my spouse while we’re in the process of divorce?
- What happens to our dogs (or pets)?
- Do you have an estimated cost of what I can expect to pay until my divorce is finalized?
- How many divorce cases are you currently taking on?
- Do you have any similar cases to mine that you have brought to trial before?
- How difficult is my case?
- When can we discuss legal strategy?
Book your First Divorce Consultation with Attorneys in Fort Worth, Texas
Divorce consultations should never feel intimidating especially if it’s the very first one. For something that requires honesty and openness, you need to prepare emotionally and mentally.
Being prepared emotionally and mentally, you will be able to prepare your list of questions and documents needed to support your case. But, just in case, let this post serve as a guide before your initial divorce consultation.
At Turner-Monahan, you can rest assured that we will provide you with a meaningful consultation everytime you meet with our attorneys.
Ready to take that first step? Schedule your first divorce consultation today!
