Meeting anyone for the first time can cause a bit of nerves, but meeting with a divorce attorney can be even more stressful. This meeting signifies that you are ready to discuss a big change in your life, and part of preparing for that change requires you to consult with a lawyer.
Meeting with your divorce lawyer for the first time is an excellent opportunity to test the waters and see whether or not they’ll be a good fit for your case, but you need to bring the proper information to conduct a productive meeting. Here is everything you will need to prepare.
Your Contact Information
This goes for any type of legal issue. Make sure you bring all of your information so they can reach you at any given time. Good communication is essential for legal issues, and it should start with your first meeting.
Key Information About Your Case
Before you even set foot in the law office, it is important to have the key facts and progression of your situation in order. Every attorney will want to hear about your case firsthand, and in order to make telling your story easier, have the facts laid out beforehand.
Gather Relevant Information
In addition to learning about you and your narrative, your attorney will also want to see any relevant documents and evidence pertaining to your case. These documents can include contracts, financial documents, e-mail records, and so on. No matter the evidence, if it is relevant then you should have it with you.
Information About Your Lawyer
It is important that you do some research regarding your attorney. In the United States, the parents of approximately 1.5 million children divorce each year, and if your lawyer was involved in any of those cases, it is important to know what kind of case it was, and if that is what your lawyer specializes in.
Questions to Ask
As with any first meeting, you should come prepared with questions to ask. Even if they are simple questions about who will handle your case and how many years of experience a lawyer has, these will ultimately be helpful in determining how well you and your lawyer will mesh.
Choosing an attorney is important, so be sure you are taking steps to be prepared for that first meeting.