What to bring to your first meeting with a family lawyer?
You have made the very practical decision to seek family law advice, but you’re not sure what you need to take with you to your first appointment. We understand that clients feel daunted prior to the first meeting and want to be prepared but… Warning: do not delay having your first meeting with your family lawyer. Quite often the quest to collate documents and believing you need to be ‘totally’ prepared can delay you getting critical advice.
Seek advice and seek it early
If you have easy access to any letters, emails or documents received from your spouse or their solicitor and tax returns, credit card, bank account or superannuation statements, sure, bring these with you to your first appointment. However, the important message is seek advice and seek it early. Usually, having these documents is not required for an initial appointment.
At your first meeting your family lawyer will provide you with advice about your situation, as well as advice about any financial and other documents that will be required in due course. This advice will also consider the need for any valuations. However, we strongly recommend you not get any asset valuations, until you have spoken to your family lawyer.
The first meeting
The first meeting is a chance to obtain advice regarding your unique circumstances. So feel free to attend your first meeting “armed” with any specific questions or concerns that you want addressed.
If you’re considering seeking family law advice, please don’t hesitate to contact our Brisbane office on (07) 3221 4300 to organise a no-obligation, fixed-cost appointment with an experienced family lawyer.