What Should I Expect In A Divorce Consultation?
With 30-plus years of experience in Family Law at our firm, here is what you should know before a divorce consultation.
Meeting with a divorce and family lawyer is not very high on many people’s “fun things to do” list. We understand this and want to help you make the most of your consultation with us. That is why we put together this guide on what to expect and prepare for.
Who Will Be In My Consultation?
You can expect the attorney you booked for your consultation to be in our office or on the phone with you. You can view our attorney profiles on our website or click on their names here to see their bios and client reviews.
Sharie Reyes Albers – Stephen Klein – Faye Carroll
How Much Does a Consultation Cost?
At Virginia Family Law Center we charge a $200 fee for a one-hour consultation for contested family law matters such as divorce, child support, and child custody and visitation. Consultations can be booked online or on the phone at 703.865.5839.
What Should I Bring With Me?
There are two sets of “things” to bring to your consultation. Let’s start with the most important. Bring an open mind and the ability to honestly tell us about your situation. We are here to help and the best way we can do that is if you can give us a complete picture of what you are going through.
If you have not already, begin compiling these key documents for your consultation.
This includes evidence of the cause of the separation or divorce, a timeline of events leading to the separation or divorce, any previous court orders or marital settlement agreements, a list of potential witnesses, a list of key facts, a list of goals for your case, police reports, property documents, a marriage certificate, prenuptial agreements, tax returns, marital debt documents, income documents, pay stubs, bank statements, retirement account information, and any other information or evidence that would be pertinent for an attorney to know about.
OK, that is a lot. We understand if you cannot pull ALL of that together for your consultation – you may not have access to some of that information right now or need help obtaining it through discovery or subpoenas. Just gather whatever you can.
What Questions Should I Ask?
One of the biggest mistakes you can make during any legal consultation is not asking questions. Because your case is unique, it is worth thinking of a few ahead of the consultation. To help get some ideas spurred, here are some typical questions we hear in consultations.
- How long have you practiced family law?
- Do you specialize in divorce cases?
- What is the typical process for a divorce or family law matter?
- What is your experience handling similar cases to mine?
- What issues do you expect to be contested in my case?
- How does a Marriage Settlement Agreement work?
- How does a Custody Schedule work?
- What if I want 50/50 Custody – what should I know?
- What should I know about arguing for custody?
- What factors will influence child custody arrangements?
- What are the different types of custody (physical, legal)?
- Are there any specific state laws that could apply to my case?
- What is the typical divorce process in our county?
- What should I know about Child Support?
- How are marital assets divided (house, retirement accounts, cars, etc.)?
- Could I be eligible for spousal support?
- How will you address any potential challenges in my case?
- What strategies do you think could help me attain my desired outcome?
- What temporary orders should I seek?
- Can I modify child support/spousal support?
- Would we need to hire some experts for my case?
- Can I seek attorney’s fees against my spouse?
- How will you communicate with me through the case?
- Who will work on my case?
- What will my divorce cost?
- What are your fees, and how do you bill?
- How often will I receive a bill from your firm?
- What are the next steps for my case?
Do I Have To Hire You Immediately?
Just because you met with a family lawyer does not mean you must immediately get divorced. For some, the consultation is the very first step in deciding if they will even consider divorce or potentially seek marriage counseling or reconciliation.
Potential clients often speak with a few family lawyers before deciding on one. It’s also not uncommon to do a consultation with us and then decide weeks, sometimes months, even a year later to hire us. We are ready when you are ready.
What If I Cry During The Consultation?
Divorce and Family Law matters are emotional at the core. It is 100% OK if you get upset during a consultation. You might even get a little angry or frustrated while telling your story. Nobody is going to judge you. Some of us have been through it ourselves.
Our firm may have seen a few things in our 30-plus years of experience in Family Law. That means we understand the incredible courage and bravery it takes to begin this process.
We are here to listen, advise, and be zealous advocates for you and your family.
Virginia Family Law Center’s Experience
Virginia Family Law Center has served the Northern Virginia region’s Family Law needs for over two decades. Our experienced team of lawyers has more than 30 years of Family Law experience and represents families’ rights in Fairfax, Manassas, Prince William, Ashburn, Loudoun, Arlington, Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Fredericksburg-Stafford, Virginia.
Schedule a consultation here.
