It is not uncommon for many individuals to go into their first family law attorney consultation expecting the attorney to talk the entire time. This is actually the opposite of what happens. Typically, your first family law attorney consultation will entail you talking about your family history, assets and debts, children, and foreseeable issues in the case dealing with your soon to be ex-spouse.
The meeting ends and then you are left wondering, “How much time will this take?” or, “How much is this going to cost?”. Informing yourself ahead of time will help with any surprises later and leave you with a better sense of control over your own case. You will know the procedures and how the office works, as well as how to communicate best with your attorney.
We cover here the top five most asked questions during the first family law attorney consultation.
1. How Do You Charge?
Most attorneys charge by the hour, but you will want to ask your attorney if they provide flat rates. If not, you should know your attorneys hourly rate before you leave the office, in addition to how often bills are sent out.
2. What About Additional Costs?
Additional costs such as copies, faxes, filing fees, process servers, court reporters, expert witnesses, and copies of transcripts can be expensive.
Ask your attorney who pays for this up front or if it is included in their hourly rate. Some attorneys have an increased rate so their clients do pay for the additional charges.
3. Will There Be a Retainer?
Usually at your first family law attorney consultation you will be required to give a retainer in order to hire your attorney. These retainers can be anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 or more depending on your case.
Make sure to ask if your retainer will be used to pay your bills first or if the retainer is to remain at a certain minimum amount, also known as an “Evergreen Retainer”.
4. What is the Total Cost of My Case?
During your first attorney consultation your attorney may be able to tell you the average amount spent on a divorce or child custody. Beware an attorney that will give you an actual figure.
It is impossible to predict human nature. So, while your spouse appears to be docile and agreeable now, later the case could become very contentious. This will increase the hours spent on the case.
It is perfectly acceptable for your attorney to give you a rough ballpark, but be careful of the attorneys who quote you a price that seems too good to be true.
5. Do You Prefer to Settle or Go to Court?
This is a really important question because it can change the trajectory of your case entirely. Many attorneys prefer to mediate and settle their cases outside of court. This can be less expensive, more harmonious, and generally faster.
However, if this is a high conflict case – meaning you and your spouse cannot agree on anything – then going to court may be your only option unless you have an attorney that also preforms mediation.
An attorney that prefers to go to trial no matter what may be a red flag because trial tends to be more expensive, and if both spouses are generally agreeing on division of assets and debts, trial isn’t necessary.
A Few Additional Questions for Your First Family Law Attorney Consultation
While we covered the top five most asked questions, here are some additional questions we have included that deserve some attention.
- Who handles the majority of cases? Paralegal or attorney?
- How long have you specifically been practicing (insert your type of case here)?
- How many clients do you currently have (a good number is 40 to 50)
- How often do you speak with your clients daily or weekly?
- How do you prefer to communicate with your clients?
Initial Consultation with a Tulsa Family Law Attorney
Feeling comfortable with your family law attorney is a must, you shouldn’t be “compromising” or going along with them because you feel like you don’t know as much as them.
A really great way to begin your search is calling us! We offer low-cost consultations, so you can practice these questions and feel more empowered. Plus, you are assured to get some expert information from our team.
Hiring a knowledgeable and compassionate family law attorney will ensure the process is expertly conducted and your interests are well represented.
Contact an experienced Tulsa family law attorney when you need to go through the Oklahoma divorce process.