Preparing for Your First Meeting with a Divorce Lawyer

 Posted on December 27, 2024 in Divorce

If you are contemplating divorce or your spouse has already filed for divorce, it is extremely important that you contact an experienced divorce attorney who can represent your interests. However, this is not a situation where one divorce attorney is the same as another. Having an inexperienced or ineffective divorce attorney can result in the divorce taking longer and costing considerably more.

Since choosing the right divorce attorney is so important, reviewing past cases and looking at each lawyer’s reviews can help determine whether the attorney is right for you and your unique situation. When you have a Geneva, IL divorce attorney who will strongly advocate on your behalf, you have taken an important first step in the divorce process.  

How Do You Choose a Divorce Attorney?

Many people who are looking for a divorce attorney will ask friends, family members, or co-workers for a referral. Others may look online at divorce attorney websites in the area and choose several that seem like a good fit. Appointments can be set up with two or three attorneys, and after speaking to all the choices, you can make an informed decision regarding which attorney will be the best for your specific divorce circumstances. This initial meeting allows you to get a feel for how the attorney treats and responds to clients, ensuring he or she is a good "fit" for your divorce.

What You Can Do to Prepare for Your Meetings with Divorce Attorneys

First, gather all the relevant documents you may need for your initial consultation. This should include financial information for you and your spouse, including tax returns and marital assets and debt information. A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement should also be included if you and your spouse have one.

Ensure you have basic legal information about you, your spouse, and your children, including the date of your marriage and the date you and your spouse first separated (if applicable). This information gives a potential divorce attorney an overall picture of your situation.

Outline your wishes for asset division, spousal support, child support, and the allocation of parental responsibilities. Make a list of questions to ask each attorney. While your questions will relate specifically to your circumstances, some questions to consider include:

• What is your background and experience in divorce law?
• Have you dealt specifically with some of the issues I expect to encounter?
• I have a business – do you have experience in dividing a business during a divorce?
•  I want to keep the marital home. Is this a realistic goal under these circumstances?
• What is your philosophy regarding the allocation of parental responsibilities?
• There is a history of domestic abuse in my marriage. How will you address this?
• Do you have experience with complex asset division?
• How do you handle client correspondence? Do you use email, text, or only phone calls?
• Will I deal directly with you if I have a question or with a paralegal or other staff member?
• What is your fee, and how is it paid?

Make Sure You Are Totally Honest During These Meetings with Attorneys

It can be difficult to share the personal details of your marriage with a total stranger, yet how difficult that is with each attorney you meet with can help you determine which one will best serve your divorce needs. If you feel more comfortable and at ease with one attorney over the others, then this might make your decision easier. No divorce attorney can properly help you unless you tell him or her everything. If it feels embarrassing, remember that your divorce attorney has likely heard every divorce story imaginable.

Contact a Kane County, IL Divorce Lawyer

If you are facing divorce, it is important that you have a highly skilled Geneva, IL divorce attorney by your side. At Serrano Hanson & Hurtado, LLC, our attorneys will use their extensive knowledge and experience in family law to provide the guidance and personal attention you deserve. Call 630-844-8781 to schedule an initial consultation. Our attorneys are fluent in Spanish and English.