Learn the best questions to ask a Maricopa family law attorney during your free consultation.
Meeting with a family law attorney? There are so many areas they cover, and you can utilize their expertise in each area. For example, you want to divorce your husband in Arizona, after 10 years of marriage. You have two children and together you both have built a beautiful home and comfortable living. He works, running his own business. You help manage the business and you also run the household.
The divorce will not impact management of the business as you both have agreed to the separation and know that what’s best for the kids and the business is that the two of you try to get along. That’s great and very mature. However, you still need an attorney to handle the divorce, make sure that custody of the children is agreed on, that the business ownership is fairly divided and that you also have your rights protected based on the laws that impact not only Maricopa, but all of Arizona in situations like this. That’s why you need a family attorney.
Your Free Family Law Attorney Consultation
Even in the best situations, you need a family lawyer. You will probably look for someone a friend can recommend first. If that doesn’t work, you will head to the web to find the best local candidate. There will be dozens of attorneys with similar qualifications as well as reviews and offers, the key one you want is the free consultation.
You should never have to pay to speak with a family law attorney regarding a consultation. The consultation is more for the lawyer. The majority of your questions can be answered by the legal staff. The consultation is where the attorney learns everything they need to know about your situation as well as whether or not you are the right client for them. However, it’s also your best opportunity to get detailed, important information for free. So, what should you ask?
Best Questions To Ask
During your free consultation, it’s important that you know what to ask to get the information you need. While the attorney is trying to determine if you’re a good match for them, you also need to know whether or not they are a good match for you. Here are some questions to get you started:
- What are my legal options? After explaining your situation, the first thing you need to know is whether or not you have legal options and what they are. In the example above, your husband may have to give you legal ownership stake in his company. However, he may be able to maintain majority ownership and final decision making. That’s something you need to know.
- How are my rights different in this state? Arizona will have different laws. The number one mistake people make when researching legal information online is that they do not apply their state to the research. So often, state laws will impact family law.
- What can you offer me as far as services? What can the attorney you’re meeting with provide you? Can they help you with the business side or is that not so much in their wheelhouse? You want to know every service you’re getting and why it’s offered or needed.
- How should I move forward? What happens if your husband wants to move back in? He’s tired of paying rent at an apartment, the business isn’t doing well and because you agreed to everything verbally you have zero legal documentation that shows you agreed to him moving out and you taking over ownership of the house. This is why you need a lawyer and learn what your best steps are.
- How do I protect myself? That’s the most important question you have to ask right now. If he gets married and decides to move to another state and leave you the business and all the responsibility, what can you do? You need to know that he is still committed to you and the kids, especially financially.
- What legal challenges do I need to be prepared for? Are there state laws that will impact you or are there regulations regarding how long you’ve been married, the conditions of your separation or something else that will impact you during the process.
- What options do I have for custody? Agreeing to custody now does not mean that both parties will want the same situation down the road. Also, remember the kids will want to possibly change the routine or their schedules require a change. If you want to be the final decision maker on these future decisions, you need the legal authority in writing now.
- What about situations of domestic violence, substance abuse or others? This can change everything and also means you need to make sure that authority is completely in your control.
- What other areas does a family lawyer cover? Can they help with your business and keeping control? Can they improve your situation and show you areas where you are vulnerable from a legal standpoint?
- Can you represent me in a divorce as well? Divorce attorneys are in high demand, not just because the rate of divorce is high, but because their services are needed for years, not just months. The process can take a while, especially if there are disagreements to who gets what. Your attorney will try to resolve everything quickly but you need to know they can represent you long-term as well.
- How should I transition my family? It’s a good question to ask. Do not expect your lawyer to tell you how to do everything but they have seen families go through similar situations and they may be able to help offer advice.
- What about our finances? That’s another area you want an experienced maricopa family lawyer to be involved in. Any attorney who has experience handling finances in divorce and separation would be a major benefit to you, especially in the long-term.
- What information is needed? You have provided the story, now the lawyer is going to need more information to assist you, especially any previous legal agreements, statements and anything that shows what you own.
- What can I expect from you and your staff? A good question and an important one. Often, you will not have direct communication with the attorney but instead their staff. Your lawyer will communicate with you whenever they can but immediate communication will be handled by the staff.
- What limitations or weaknesses do you have in areas I may need help in? Another fair question and important. You may like an attorney but you also need to make sure they can cover everything or know someone who can assist you in the areas they lack experience in. If you have a lawyer who is great with divorce and custody but not business, they need to work with someone who can accommodate you.
There are dozens of options available to you. However, when contacting a Maricopa family attorney, start by making sure that you are getting the best service and someone who can work with you, not just today, but in the future.