Preparing for Your First Divorce Meeting
What to Know Before Your Consultation With a Divorce Lawyer
That first phone call with a divorce lawyer can feel overwhelming. You might not know what to say, what to ask, or if you are supposed to have all the details at your fingertips. I’m Amanda Bradley with Flat Fee Divorce Solutions, and I work with clients in Collinsville, O’Fallon, Belleville, Edwardsville, and across the Metro East.
A phone consultation with a divorce lawyer is a chance for you to discuss your options, compatibility, and gain an understanding of the process of divorce. A consultation is just a conversation, and it does have its limitations. It is important to go into your consultation with a divorce lawyer with realistic expectations.
Know What to Expect and Be Prepared
Having realistic expectations for your consultation can help it be more effective. Be prepared to discuss fees, the attorney’s approach and communication, the general process and next steps, and important information regarding your case.
Before your meeting, try to have a general sense of the following:
- Your income and your spouse’s income
- Any shared debts like credit cards, car loans, or a mortgage
- Property you own together or separately
- Whether you have children and what your current parenting arrangement looks like
- Whether you and your spouse have already talked about how you’d like to handle things
A consultation is not the time to review documents or terms, but it is good to come in prepared with the important information that the attorney may inquire about.
Think About What You Want to Ask
A lot of people walk into their first meeting focused on answering questions, but it should go both ways. This is your chance to figure out whether the lawyer you’re talking to is the right fit. Don’t be afraid to ask things like how the process works, what the expected timeline is, and how fees are structured.
If you’re considering an uncontested divorce, you’ll want to know whether your situation qualifies. As a Collinsville uncontested divorce lawyer, I can usually tell pretty quickly based on a few key details. Are you and your spouse on speaking terms? Have you discussed any of the big issues like property, debts, or parenting time? If the answer is yes, you may be in a great position to move forward without a long, drawn out process.
Know Where You Stand With Your Spouse
It is important to have an understanding of your situation prior to your consultation so that you can answer any questions the attorney may have. If you’ve already had productive conversations about how to divide things or how parenting time will work, that’s a strong starting point. If things are still tense but you both want to avoid conflict, that’s worth mentioning too. It helps me understand how to approach your case and what kind of timeline to expect.
What If You Haven’t Agreed on Everything Yet
That’s fine. Most people haven’t. Some couples agree on 90% of the details and just need help with the last few sticking points. Others are earlier in the process and still figuring things out. Either way, a Collinsville uncontested divorce lawyer can help you understand what needs to be decided and how to get there.
In Illinois, parenting time and parental allocation (formerly called custody and visitation) are two of the most important pieces of any divorce involving children. Even if you and your spouse haven’t nailed down a schedule yet, knowing what options exist can make those conversations easier.
You Don’t Need to Have It All Together
If there’s one thing I want people to know before their first consultation, it’s this: you don’t have to be perfectly prepared. You just need to share what you know, and be honest about what you’re hoping for.
The goal of that first conversation is to figure out the best path forward for your situation. It’s not a test. It’s a starting point.
Take the First Step
If you’ve been thinking about divorce and aren’t sure where to begin, reaching out is the hardest part. Once you do, the rest starts to feel a lot more manageable. Contact Flat Fee Divorce Solutions to talk through your situation and find out what the process looks like from here.