What Should I Ask My Charlotte Family Law Attorney When We Meet?

Charlotte family law lawyers have one of the most difficult jobs in their field. Personal injury lawyers work hard to get their clients money for injuries they’ve suffered in an accident. Workers’ compensation lawyers fight to get their clients the benefits they deserve. But a Charlotte family law attorney is a different breed altogether.

They meet their clients at one of the most tumultuous times in their lives. Whether they’re looking to get a divorce or are fighting for custody of their children, there is an enormous amount at stake. Therefore, it’s critical that you tell your Charlotte family law attorney as much as you can when you first meet with them.

What Are the Most Common Reasons People Hire a Charlotte Family Law Attorney?

A Charlotte family law attorney does a lot more than handle divorces. They help people with custody matters and child support. They help clients write prenuptial agreements. They even help people adopt a child. 

Some of the more common reasons people in Charlotte meet with a family attorney include:

• They want to file for legal separation
• They want to file for divorce or respond to a complaint for divorce
• They are looking to change a child custody arrangement
• They want to modify child support
• They want to adopt a child and need legal help

All of these things are extremely important to our clients. It’s not a matter of money at stake. The outcome of the cases a Charlotte family law attorney handles can change a client’s life. This is why we take our cases so seriously. The last thing we want to do is be the person who causes a mom or dad to lose custody of their children. We also never want to be the reason why a family has their adoption petition denied.

What Should You Bring to Your Initial Meeting with Your Charlotte Family Law Attorney?

Most people are unsure of what they should bring to their first meeting with a Charlotte family law attorney. That makes sense since most people have never been to a family law attorney before. To make things a bit easier, below are some of the items and information you should bring with you to your first meeting with a Charlotte family law attorney:

• Copies of any legal documents you’ve received from your spouse or other third-party
• Copies of any previous court orders related to your case
• Any pictures you feel are relevant to the issue at hand
• A copy of your prenuptial agreement (if you have one)
• Financial statements for you and your spouse
• Your children’s birth dates, school information, and any medical conditions they suffer from
• If you’re interested in an adoption, bring any information you’ve collected thus far

While you should bring this information to your initial meeting, it’s also a good idea to send this to your Charlotte family law attorney ahead of time. You can always send pictures through your phone or email. If they are official documents, it’s better to take a copy or scan a copy into your email. The longer your Charlotte family law attorney has to review this information, the more you can expect to cover in your first meeting.

It’s a Good Idea to Bring a List of Prepared Questions

One thing we recommend to clients is to bring a list of questions they prepared ahead of time. Rather than trying to think of questions on the spot, you can take days or weeks thinking of important things you want to discuss. Of course, any Charlotte family law attorney will have their own list of things they’ll want to discuss. However, since this is your meeting, it’s important that you communicate your concerns.

Some of the questions you may have going into your first meeting include:

• How long will the process take?
• How expensive will it be to retain their services?
• How often (if at all) will you have to go to court?
• Do you expect the other side to put up a fight?
• What are your chances of success?

You’ll have plenty of your own questions. These are just a few to start with. You need to keep in mind that your initial meeting will only be for about a half hour. Perhaps your attorney will spend a full hour with you. Since you’re paying for this consultation, you’re going to want to get the most out of your meeting.

Schedule Your Initial Meeting with a Charlotte Family Law Attorney

Regardless of the issues you’re dealing with, it’s a good idea to meet with a family law lawyer in Charlotte. All you have to do is call our office and speak to one of our office staff. They find a time that works for you and schedule an appointment with a seasoned Charlotte family law attorney. In a half hour, they’ll be able to briefly review your case and answer most, if not all, of your questions.

When you come for your initial meeting, try to arrive a few minutes early. If your Charlotte family law attorney is running ahead of schedule, they’d rather take you in than have you sit in a waiting room. Once you enter their office, the meeting will start. Make sure you have your list of questions with you. It’s also a good idea to bring a notebook or legal pad with you. This way, you can take notes and jot down any instructions your lawyer gives you.

When it comes to family law issues, there is a lot at stake. You don’t want to try to handle this on your own. There are too many things you could leave to chance. These risks decrease if you have a legal professional by your side. 

Our family law lawyers in Charlotte have decades of combined experience handling cases just like yours. They will work hard to get the best possible outcome in your case. All you need to do is follow their advice, provide them with whatever information you have available, and trust them.