Choosing an attorney is a difficult decision in the best of circumstances, but can be particularly nerve-racking in a family law setting.  To reduce stress, it is important to come to the initial consultation adequately prepared.  An added benefit is that the attorney will be able to quickly draft the initial court documents once an attorney / client relationship is established.

I have discovered in my practice that the following documents should be brought to the consultation:

1. Personal identification
   1. Driver’s License
   2. Social Security card (or number if card is unavailable)
   3. Children’s Social Security numbers
   4. Health insurance card
2. Financial documents
   1. Two years of tax returns (if readily available)
   2. Two months of pay-check stubs
   3. Recent retirement account statements
   4. Recent brokerage account statements
   5. Recent credit card statements
3. Case specific documents
   1. E-mails
   2. Text messages
   3. Social Media postings
   4. Photographs

The Golden Rule of initial consultations is: “Tell everything.”  All information provided at the initial consultation is privileged, meaning the attorney cannot disclose the information to anyone without your express permission.  This ensures that the client is comfortable sharing everything that has occurred during their relationship, regardless of how embarrassing it may be.  Unfiltered communication between the client and attorney is a necessary prerequisite to a successful attorney / client relationship.  Once you have established a good rapport with the attorney the decision turns to whether you want to engage the attorney to represent you.

At the beginning of our consultation I will provide you with a form engagement letter, which sets forth what my role as your attorney will be, what you can expect from me during the case, and what I expect from you.  The engagement letter will also set forth the fee I will charge you for your specific case.  Unlike most attorneys, I charge a flat fee rather than bill the client by the hour.  One benefit of a flat fee is it avoids “surprises” that can accompany a case that takes longer to resolve than either the client or attorney expected.  The flat fee rate quoted in the engagement letter includes all initial filing fees, which can range from $31.00 for a modification/enforcement to $285.00 for a divorce with children.

Regardless of whether you hire me, it is important to have a written agreement with an attorney that clearly sets forth their obligations to you and your financial obligations to them.  If they charge by the hour, their hourly rate and the hourly rate of any associate or paralegal should be clearly stated in the engagement letter.  The agreement should also include any additional charges that the attorney will charge you.

If you decide to hire me to represent you, I will draft a final engagement letter for you to review prior to signing.  As with any document, I recommend that you carefully review the engagement letter at your leisure and call or e-mail me with any questions you have about what it includes or excludes.  I do not sign engagement letters at the initial consultation because it is important that you as the client have sufficient time to review it in a comfortable setting.  I look forward to speaking with you about your case, and, hopefully, represent you.

To request a free Initial Consultation, please contact me via e-mail: DGNolen@hotmail.com, or telephone: 832.623.6517 (office), 713.553.3248 (mobile).