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Mar 02, 2016
So you’ve decided to see a lawyer.
That means you have decided to see some strange people, in a place you’ve never been before, to talk about things you probably don’t want to talk about. Understandably, you may feel unprepared. Below are our top 5 Tips to prepare for your First Conference.
- Think about what you want
- A lawyer cannot help you if you don’t know what you want from them and from the situation in the first place.
- In saying that, be prepared to face the fact that you may not get exactly what you want. The law is flexible but it is designed to meet all your needs rather than wants.
- Get the facts straight
- After obtaining some contact and personal details, the first thing a lawyer will ask is for you to explain the situation to them. Essentially, your Family Law lawyer wants a timeline so that they can understand your particular circumstances.
- You won’t need to know the exact date of everything (though it will certainly help!) but you will need to go over the events of the relationship from when you met to when you separated and particularise your assets and your partner’s assets before, during and after the relationship.
- Consider your situation objectively and be open
- Arguably, this is the hardest thing to do. However, it is essential in order to achieve the best outcome.
- You can be assured that your conference with a family lawyer is confidential. I If you are considering whether or not disclose something to your lawyer, remember it will be difficult if not impossible for them to give good advice without the whole picture.
- Do your homework
- If the family lawyer has asked to you fill out any forms or read any documents, you should bring that completed homework to your first meeting.
- This will help the lawyer be as quick and efficient as possible, lowering the overall costs for you.
- Remember: the lawyer is trying to impress you
- The family lawyer may use impressive words and look official but at the end of the day, you are the client. If you don’t understand something, make sure you ask them to explain it better. Their job is to serve you.
To find out more about family law, family law lawyers and the court system, please contact James Frank at jfrank@franklegal.com.au or 02 9688 6023.
If you would like to know more about family law and your rights and obligations in familial relationships please click the below contact us button.
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A Brief Summary on Family Law Property Settlement
This article is provided to the reader for general information. It is not legal advice.
