The attorneys at GillespieShields practice family, employment, civil, criminal, probate, appellate, and immigration law.

ou are in need of legal counsel, it is important to know what to do before contacting a family law attorney. There are five things you should do before getting in touch with an attorney that will help your case be processed more smoothly.

1. Prepare Your Documents In Advance

Preparing your information ahead of time will reduce the number of questions that you need to answer. It also allows for a quicker process overall because it is easier and faster to gather documents than having an attorney do it on your behalf.

You may need to provide important documentation and information such as:

• Documents such as bank statements
• Credit card records
• Insurance policies

More can be requested during your initial consultation with a family law attorney so it is best to have them ready before you meet.

Whether through email or phone calls between yourself and the family law attorney’s staff, they will ask for this pertinent information that could help get things moving along in your case. If you do not know where some of these documents are located, you might want to start looking now!

Also, keep in mind that apps on electronic devices like smartphones and laptops typically delete everything every time there is an update (which happens frequently) unless otherwise specified by the user; therefore if something is stored on your device, print or save it to an external hard drive.

If you are currently separated from your spouse and living in a different address than the one where you used to reside with them, be sure that all of this information is provided so there will not be any confusion about which documents belong to whom.

2. Examine The Components Of Your Case

When you contact a family law attorney, they will ask for details about your case. If you have not done any research on the elements of your specific case and how it relates to local laws in your area, then you may find yourself giving incorrect information that could be detrimental to your situation.

Your family law attorney should know what evidence is needed from both sides in order to build a strong defense or prosecution. Be prepared with facts; these can make or break an argument that might determine whether or not someone goes home with their children every night after divorce proceedings are over. It’s hard enough going through this type of trauma without having false expectations because sufficient time wasn’t taken care preparing before contacting help!

3. Write Down Questions You’d Like To Ask

Well, it’s important to keep track of your own thoughts about the divorce process so you can explain them clearly and accurately. Putting questions down on paper will help ensure that nothing gets missed when speaking with an attorney.

If you’re not sure what to ask an attorney, it can be difficult to move forward with the legal process. It is also important to write down questions that come up as soon as possible after meeting a family law attorney so that they are fresh in your mind and don’t accidentally get forgotten over time or before speaking with someone else about them.

4. Prepare A Family Matter Summary Outline

Before discussing your family matter with a family law attorney, you must first do some preparation work. This way when the time comes to contact an attorney, everything will be ready and waiting for them in order to get started right away. 

Preparing this summary outlining your family matter is extremely important! Whether you are filing for divorce or involved in another type of family law situation such as custody modifications, child support, spousal maintenance (also known as alimony), adoption cases, and much more; it is vital that you prepare a brief but thorough overview summarizing all relevant information about your case which can also include:

• Important dates and deadlines
• Any possible issues related to property division, assets, and debts

5. Make Sure To Keep Copies Of Your Files

There are many reasons to keep track of your own files when you are involved with a family law issue. First, it is important because if you lose touch with an attorney, then there may still be information that was not shared during the initial consultation. 

Second, keeping records on your own will help you remember what has happened in the past and how this can impact future decisions. Third, having materials available allows for more efficient conversations between yourself and an attorney so that everyone is clear about expectations moving forward.

If you’re considering contacting a family law attorney, it’s important to be prepared beforehand. Why put yourself through the hassle of preparing your case and meeting with an attorney if you don’t have all the information? Make sure to examine every component of your situation, write down questions, prepare a brief summary outline of your case including who are parties are involved in the dispute, keep copies of all relevant documents, and create timelines. Then call us today! We can help guide you through this process so that things go smoothly from start to finish.

Are You Looking for a Family Law Attorney You Can Trust?

The attorneys at GillespieShields are well-versed in a variety of different legal fields, ranging from family law to civil suits, employment disputes, and probate cases. Although we specialize in several areas of practice, our greatest passion is family law. We believe in giving families peace of mind no matter their situation, and we fight hard to maintain that peace. Whether you’re filing for dissolution or divorce, determining custody of your children, or thinking about adopting children, our experienced attorneys are here to help you every step of the way.  During our private, one-on-one consultation, we’ll take the necessary time to answer all of our questions surrounding Arizona’s family laws, your family’s unique situation, and the possible court outcomes. Contact us today for your consultation!

Disclaimer 

The materials available on this website are for informational and entertainment purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.  You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice. The information presented on this website may not reflect the most current legal developments.  No action should be taken in reliance on the information contained on this website and we disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this site to the fullest extent permitted by law.