Your First Meeting with a Family Lawyer
Whether you've already separated or are considering it, seeking guidance and advice on the process and your entitlements is crucial. To ensure you make the most of your initial meeting, here are some key tips for preparation:
Bring documents that you think are important for advice on property settlement
If you're seeking advice on property settlement, we'll need to discuss your assets, liabilities, and superannuation, both yours and your partner's or former partner's. Bring any relevant documentation relating to these aspects to the meeting for thorough discussion and assessment. However, if you're unable to access these documents beforehand, there's no cause for concern as they can be obtained at a later stage.
Think about the history of your relationship
During our consultation, we'll delve into various historical aspects of your relationship, you can anticipate questions such as:
What were the assets, liabilities, and superannuation holdings for each of you at the start of the relationship?
What was the employment history for both parties throughout the course of the relationship?
How did each of you contribute to the household and, if applicable, parenting responsibilities?
Children under 18 years of age
In addition to providing guidance on parenting arrangements, we'll address the specific needs of your children, encompassing both emotional and developmental aspects. Expect inquiries such as:
Are there any health or developmental considerations concerning the child/children?
How are the child/children going in terms of their schooling?
Do you have any apprehensions regarding the child/children's time spent with the other parent?
Should you possess any documents regarding the parenting arrangements, such as text messages, feel free to bring them along. This will facilitate a more comprehensive discussion during our meeting.
Your Questions
Bring a list of questions to your meeting, ones that have been weighing on your mind. Don't fret if you're unsure whether they're relevant or not; what truly matters is that you feel all your questions have been addressed and that you leave feeling well-informed and reassured. Your concerns are important to us, and we're here to provide the clarity and guidance you seek.