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How to prepare for an initial appointment with a Family Lawyer

How to prepare for an initial appointment with a Family Lawyer

Family Lawyer initial appointment sydney parramatta

People turn to family lawyers for a variety of reasons, often during challenging and emotionally charged times in their lives.

Chances are you may reluctantly find yourself needing to engage in a family lawyer one day to ensure your legal rights are maintained and you get the best outcome for yourself or your family.

There are a few things that you can do to get the most out of your initial appointment with our lawyers. The main thing is to prepare both emotionally and practically, by gathering key information that you may need to refer to.

We will provide you with a questionnaire in advance to help you address information that will help us to help you. We know it can be hard for you to know what information we need, and preparation will be the key to keeping costs down and keeping the process on track, which is why we have the questionnaire to help guide you.

It is also helpful for you to prepare a list of questions and issues you will wish to discuss at your appointment, this can be emailed to us in advance or just something that you can keep to refer to during your appointment.

Depending on your Family Law matter you may have questions about:-

  • Children or Parenting Matters (Custody, Child Support, Living Arrangements, Schooling, Health, Safety, Grandparents)
  • Property Settlement (Living arrangements, living under the same roof, division of assets, financial agreements, Consent Orders)
  • DeFacto or Same-Sex matters
  • Surrogacy (Donor agreements, IVF, Adoption)
  • Wills & Estate issues
  • or a multitude of other matters that come under the Family Law banner.

You should also think about what other documents may be relevant such as court documents, relevant correspondence or agreements that have been provided to you by your spouse or partner or their lawyer, again you can you can email these to us in advance or have them handy during your appointment in case we need to refer to them.  Please note, that while our lawyer may skim through the documents they will not, as part of a standard initial consultation, have read through the documents in full.

What questions should I ask my family lawyer?

When engaging a family lawyer in New South Wales, particularly for matters related to divorce, property settlements, and parenting arrangements, clients often have a variety of questions. Here are some commonly asked questions:

What should I bring to the initial consultation?

How is child custody determined in NSW?

What are the steps involved in filing for divorce?

How are assets typically divided in a divorce or separation?

What is the process for creating a binding financial agreement?

Can you explain the concept of ‘no-fault’ divorce?

How can I ensure the best interests of my child are met in custody arrangements?

What role do grandparents have in custody matters?

How is child support calculated and enforced?

What is involved in the process of property settlement?

What are the legal rights of de facto and same-sex couples in NSW?

How do you handle international family law issues?

What does the mediation process entail in family law disputes?

How can I prepare financially for separation or divorce?

What options are available if my ex-partner and I reach our own agreements?

What is a consent order, and how do I obtain one?

How can surrogacy agreements be legally established in NSW?

What should I include in my will to ensure my children’s future is secure?

What should I expect regarding legal costs and the payment process?

How can I begin the process of changing my child’s surname post-divorce?

Preparing specific questions relevant to your situation can aid in a productive meeting with your lawyer.

We thank you for booking a consultation with Sarah Bevan Family Lawyers. It is important for you to feel comfortable when you contact our office it is common for people to feel intimidated or embarrassed when first discussing personal matters with a lawyer, remember there are no silly questions, the majority of our clients have NEVER had to meet a lawyer before.

Please rest assured that our team approaches every person with compassion and complete confidentiality.

We look forward to meeting with you at your appointment.

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