Once you have contacted the law firm and have confirmed that there are no existing conflicts, you will be scheduled for a consultation with a family law attorney. Consultations generally last for an hour but could be longer depending on the circumstances of your case. Prior to your consultation you should gather documents for the family law attorney to review. You should bring your important financial documents to the initial consultation, including tax returns, bank statements, retirement account statements, 401(k) statements, and mortgage statements. You should also bring any statements as to liabilities such as credit card statements, loan documentation and the like. If you have been served any legal documents, such as complaints for child support or spousal support, petitions for child custody, complaints in divorce, notices of any hearings or conferences, you should bring those for the attorney to review during the consultation. Likewise, if there are existing court orders in your matter, such as child custody orders, child support orders, spousal support or alimony pendente lite orders, marital settlement agreements, or any other order, you should bring those documents as well.
When you contact a family law attorney to schedule a consultation, you may already have a lot of questions. Write those questions down and bring them to the consultation so they can be addressed during your initial meeting. In the beginning of the consultation, the attorney will ask about the specific circumstances of your case. Some of these questions may seem very personal or irrelevant but please understand it is necessary. You will also be advised of the applicable laws in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. The family law attorney needs to have a complete understanding as to your facts and circumstances in order to provide quality information. This may be overwhelming, but you will have the opportunity to have your questions answered.
Pursuing a family law matter can be difficult and stressful, but understanding what the first step entails and coming to the consultation prepared will lower your anxiety and result in a more productive experience.
