One of the most frequently ask questions by potential clients is “what should I bring to the consultation?” With all of the stress and anticipation of a family law matter, our goal is to provide you with the resources you need to feel prepared and confident for your consultation. Bringing necessary documentation helps you effectively use your consultation time to determine the next steps in your case. So, what should you bring?
- Court documents (a.k.a. Pleadings). In general, regardless of the type of case you may have, you will need to bring any pleadings or filings from the Court. If you have had an ongoing litigation case, you can pull a copy of your file at the Courthouse to bring with you. However, if you feel anxiety about going to the courthouse alone or feel like you may miss something, this is completely up to you. Our office can also pull your file once you retain our legal services should you prefer. Bringing any pleadings you have can help us understand what has been filed in your case and where your case currently stands in the Court system. This will determine the next course of action and any deadlines for your case which are extremely important. As an aside, if you receive any Court pleadings, please do not ignore them! As soon you have received a court filing either from a sheriff or simply in your mailbox, you need to schedule a consultation as soon as possible to ensure nothing happens that could negatively impact your legal rights, your financial situation, and your children.
- Letters or communications from the opposing side. Additionally, you will want to bring any documents or letters you have received from the opposing party, opposing side, or another attorney concerning this case. These documents and letters help your attorney know who represents the other side and any potential offers. Your attorney will likely want to respond or contact the other attorney or party as soon as possible.
- Financial records or spreadsheets. For cases involving division of assets or debts, you will want to bring financial statements for any marital assets and debts. What types of documents, you might ask? Monthly statements for the mortgage, credit cards, car loans, 401(k) or other retirement plans, and bank statements. For the time period, you generally want the statements 2-3 months before the date of separation to the date closest to the consultation. If you have not separated from your spouse yet, then you want the most recent statements from the past 2-3 months. Also, bring your paystubs and recent tax filings and forms. Collecting these items helps your attorney jump start the process and moves your case along faster!
- Parenting arrangements or documents. For child custody cases, bring information about your current custody arrangement. This could be emails reflecting when you exchange the children or simply a verbal schedule. How often do you have overnights with the children? How do you handle exchanges? What does your typical week look like? Having a timeline of events also can help your attorney get caught up to speed on your case and is helpful to reference when preparing for litigation. All of this information helps your attorney understand your family dynamic and offer solutions to better serve you and your family.
- Bring documents in an electronic form! It is always a good idea to bring the documents to your attorney in an electronic format. You can save your documents on your computer and bring your computer to the consultation. Saving documents on a USB flash-drive or on a secure cloud-based platform are options as well. Due to the wide use of technology, documents can be securely saved and shared electronically in lieu of the traditional stacks of paper. However, if paper is all you have, definitely bring those documents.
Ultimately, the more information and documents you can provide the attorney you are consulting with, the better we are able to guide you on next steps in your case. However, if you do not have any documentation, don’t fret… we can still discuss various options for your case!
The legal system can be daunting but starting off on the right foot at your consultation can help you move your case forward with minimal stress.
If you are looking for a family law attorney to help you navigate the legal system, our Modern Legal team is here to help.
Inspired by her own experiences with domestic violence and the family court system, Theresa E. Viera became the first lawyer in her family, graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She has dedicated her career to helping families find healthy solutions through various legal tools, including negotiations, mediation, collaborative law, and litigation when necessary. With years of experience in Family Law, she strives to inspire others and make a positive impact on the lives of her clients, just as her mother’s attorney once inspired her.
