Divorce cases are some of the most legally complex and emotionally challenging types of family law litigation in Texas. You may be facing the prospect of your marriage coming to an end If that is the case, you may wonder what to expect from your first appointment with a prospective divorce lawyer.
Initial consultation and case evaluation
A primary goalfor your first appointment with a divorce attorney is obtaining an overall evaluation of your case. By this it is meant that a family law attorney will provide you an overview of what to anticipate generally in your particular case. This can include an discussion of everything from property division to child custody and the development of a parenting plan.
Time to ask your own questions
While counsel will ask a number of questions of you, an initial consultation is the time at which you can raise your own questions with a divorce lawyer. The key to making sure that you do obtain answers to all of the questions that are important to you is preparation. In other words, prior to going to your initial consultation, prepare a written list of key questions that you want to raise with an attorney.
Fee arrangement
During the initial consultation with a prospective divorce attorney, you will also discuss your obligation in the way of fee for services. Divorce lawyers typically bill clients on an hourly basis. There are some attorneys that charge a flat fee for a divorce case if the matter does not appear to be particularly complex or contentious.