4 Steps to Take After Your Initial Consultation

Meeting with an attorney for an initial consultation can be overwhelming. Perhaps you have not been in the position to seek legal advice before. Once you have an opportunity to discuss your family law case with an experienced Central Florida attorney, you may be left wondering what to do next.

Depending on your overall experience going through the consultation process, you may want to consider the following steps:

1. Contemplate your options: Before you decide to retain an attorney, you might want to ask yourself the following questions.

• Can my marriage be saved?
• Have my spouse and I exhausted all efforts to maintain our relationship?
• Are my spouse and I willing to try counseling?
• Would a Collaborative strategy meet the needs of my family?
• Am I ready to take legal action?

2. Review your notes: During your initial consultation, the attorney will ask questions to get to know you and the specifics of your case better. Many potential clients use this time to write down how the meeting went from their personal point of view. Did you feel comfortable discussing the details of your case with an attorney? Are you confident in his or her ability to serve as a legal advocate on your behalf?

3. Determine your ability to follow through with a fee agreement: There are many factors that contribute to an attorney’s hourly rate such as experience, industry training, educational background, etc. Be sure to carefully read any documentation related to fees and/or retainers. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if there is anything you don’t fully understand.
4. Contact the attorney to retain services: Once you have made the decision to take legal action, it is imperative to get in touch with the attorney you would like to represent you. Remember, every case is unique and different. It is important to manage your expectations. Should you have questions regarding policies and procedures that the attorney and/or legal team follow, let them know as soon as possible.

If it turns out that the timing isn’t right to move forward, you still might choose to keep your notes and contact information for the attorney in a safe place, in the event that you decide to pursue your case at a later date.

To speak with one of our attorneys, contact us today.

Photo by Nik MacMillan on Unsplash