5 Things To Do When Meeting Your Divorce Lawyer For The First Time

So you’ve had enough! You’ve tried marital counseling, perhaps even a trial separation and you feel you have to make the call to a Minnesota Divorce Attorney.  What can you expect? What should do to prepare for it? Well as always, I’m here to help! Here are my top 5 things to do when meeting with your divorce lawyer for the first time:

Leave The Kids At Home! 

Please, take my suggestion on this one, leave the kids at home.  First it’s distracting to you and your lawyer to have little Jimmy running around the office.  If you don’t have day care options then get a sitter! Attorneys fees are hundreds of dollars an hour, don’t be foolish and spend half the time trying to keep the kids calm in the office to save ten bucks!  Also, personally, it’s unsettling when we are talking about the children’s father and you’re about to talk about the affair, the alcohol or cocaine use or spousal abuse.  A divorce lawyer’s office is no place for kids, leave them at home.

Have A List Of Questions Ready

If you are seriously considering divorce you will have questions. Perhaps how much child support can I expect?  How do we divide the house and our stuff? Am I entitled to her 401k? Can I move out-of-state with the kids? What about alimony?  Whatever your particular questions may be, think about them and write them down.  It’s a sign of an organized client and it will make your lawyer’s job easier

Don’t Waste Your Time (or Mine)

I know this may sound rather blunt, but if you really aren’t serious about hiring a lawyer and just trying to learn how to avoid going through a lawyer, you really aren’t doing yourself any favors. You can’t learn enough in one conversation to provide you with the essential knowledge needed to go through what can be a messy divorce process. It’s ok to interview several lawyers and pick the one that fits you best; however, going from lawyer to lawyer to try to cobble together how to be your own divorce lawyer is a recipe for disaster.

Don’t Be Afraid To Bring A Friend Or Family Member

If you would like some support feel free to bring a family member to sit and listen with you.  Often times we divorce lawyers talk fast and are using phrases you don’t normally hear.  An extra set of ears can often be a good thing.

Don’t Wait Until The Last Minute

If you get served with divorce papers in Minnesota you have 30 days to put in an answer.  An answer is a legal document that can be many pages long.  Do not think that if you don’t reply or just don’t sign anything the case will go away.  It won’t, what will happen is it will take your lawyer last-minute scrambling to get the document submitted properly so you are not in default!  Just as in most things, last-minute, rush orders, cost extra.  You can expect to pay a premium if you waited until 24 hours before you are in default and your lawyer has to stay late in the office to get it accomplished.

There you go, a short list of 5 things you should do when meeting your divorce lawyer for the first time. The list isn’t exhaustive but it hopefully will help you get just a little more organized when going to see your divorce lawyer.

Information obtained in mankatofamilylaw.com may contain knowledgable content about Minnesota Family Law that may be considered beneficial to some; however, in no way should this website or its contents be considered legal advice. Mr. Kohlmeyer is a Minnesota licensed Attorney and cannot provide legal services or guidance to those outside of Minnesota. If you wish to retain Mr. Kohlmeyer as your Attorney in Your Family Law matter, contact 507-205-9736.