5 Questions For Your Family Law Consultation
Walking into a family law attorney's office can feel intimidating. You're dealing with life-altering decisions about your marriage, your children, and your financial future. Our friends at Robinson & Hadeed discuss preparation as the single factor that separates clients who leave confused from those who leave confident. A divorce lawyer builds strategy around the facts you provide during your initial meeting.
The right documents answer questions before you even ask them. Missing paperwork creates delays and follow-up appointments. Let's address what you actually need to bring and why it matters.
Do I Really Need to Bring Financial Documents?
Yes, and here's why. We can't advise you on property division, spousal support, or child support without understanding your complete financial situation. Guessing about income or assets leads to poor strategy and unrealistic expectations.
Bring pay stubs from the past three months showing your current earnings. Tax returns from the previous two years reveal the bigger picture, including income sources that might not appear on regular paystubs. Investment dividends, rental income, and business profits all show up on tax documents.
Bank statements, retirement account statements, and investment records from the past year help us value what you own. Property deeds and mortgage statements clarify real estate holdings. Vehicle titles and loan documents complete the asset picture.
Don't forget liabilities. Credit card statements, personal loans, and other debts affect how we approach division of property and calculation of support obligations.
What About My Marriage Certificate and Other Legal Papers?
Absolutely bring your marriage certificate. This proves when and where you married, which determines jurisdiction and impacts support calculations in many jurisdictions.
Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements control major aspects of your case. If you signed documents about property ownership or support before or during marriage, we need to review them immediately. These contracts often override what state law would otherwise require.
Any prior court orders related to your family matter too. Previous custody decisions, existing support orders, or protective orders all affect what we can request and what courts might grant.
How Do I Prove My Relationship With My Children?
Documentation shows involvement better than words. Birth certificates establish legal parentage and ages. Existing custody orders or parenting plans set the current legal baseline we're working from.
Gather evidence of daily participation in your children's lives:
- School correspondence showing your involvement
- Medical appointment records demonstrating health management
- Extracurricular activity registrations and payments
- Childcare invoices proving financial responsibility
Create a written schedule outlining your current arrangement. Which parent has the children on which days? Who handles school drop-off and pickup? How do you split holidays? This baseline matters when arguing for changes or maintaining current arrangements.
Should I Bring Text Messages and Emails?
Communication records often become powerful evidence. Text exchanges between you and your spouse about property, children, or finances can prove agreements or show broken promises. Emails discussing separation terms or parenting decisions demonstrate what's already been negotiated informally.
Save messages that show concerning behavior. Threats, admissions of affairs, or evidence of substance abuse might impact custody or property division. Screenshots work fine, but make sure dates and times are visible.
If domestic violence is part of your story, police reports and protective orders provide objective third-party documentation. Medical records from abuse-related injuries support your claims.
What Information Should I Write Down Before My Appointment?
A written timeline saves time during your meeting. Note key dates like when you married, when you separated, when problems started, and when significant events occurred. Your memory fades, but written records stay accurate.
List your goals and priorities. What outcome would satisfy you? What issues matter most? Where might you compromise? Knowing your objectives helps us develop focused strategy.
Prepare specific questions about the legal process, likely timelines, and potential costs. Understanding what happens next reduces anxiety and helps you make informed decisions.
When you've gathered your documentation and organized your thoughts, reach out to schedule your meeting. The time you invest in preparation pays dividends in the quality of advice you receive.